ASI says no to U.S.A.

Associated Students, Inc. voted against legislation that would have supported the demands of United Students for Action against The State Hornet at Wednesday’s board meeting.

U.S.A. is an anonymous group protesting The Hornet for publishing a picture of a man being arrested at the Sept. 18 Causeway Classic football game.

Sean South, vice president of university affairs, authored the legislation.

“The only reason The State Hornet published the picture was to increase readership ... This is yellow journalism,” South said in support of his legislation.

Chris Missick, director of social sciences and interdisciplinary studies, was surprised at South’s accusations against the campus newspaper.

“You accuse The Hornet of publishing the picture to increase readership, yet you just said that your legislation attracted a big crowd to the meeting,” Missick said. “You say the Hornet practiced yellow journalism; well, this is yellow legislation.”

David Sommers, editor in chief of The State Hornet, made a statement during the open forum at the beginning of the meeting. The State Hornet was supported by a room full of newspaper staff and journalism students.

“I’m disappointed to come in today to address legislation that has been brought in by an anonymous group,” Sommers said.

The legislation, which was moved from an informational item to legislation that would have action taken, failed by a 2-8 vote, with Megan Kennobbie, director of business, abstaining.

Kennobbie refused to comment as to why she abstained from voting.

The debate on the legislation was heated and caused continual arguments about not only the resolution but also the incident that sparked the protest. The meeting had to be called to order several times by Executive Vice President Jason Bryant, who helps to keep meetings running smoothly and in context .

South said he was expecting to have a difficult time passing the legislation.

“I knew that in taking this to the board, it would face strong opposition simply because of who is on this board,” South said. “Some people get this issue, some people don’t.”

Lane Kasselman, director of arts and letters was adamantly against the resolution.

“The legislation is unfounded and ASI should not support this legislation,” Kasselman said.

President Geoff Sakala pointed out that he had a hard time supporting a group that has remained anonymous. He asked for any members of the audience who are affiliated with U.S.A. to stand, and when no one did, he stated that his point had been made.

Strati Vourakis, director of undeclared students, said that the picture was not controversial.

“If this picture has offended any people, then they chose to take it that way,” Vourakis said.

South rigorously defended the importance of his legislation. He said that he was trying to mediate between two groups in the hope of coming to a peaceful conclusion.

“Media messages do matter. They do have an impact on society,” South said. “Picture a criminal. I bet that in your mind you pictured a black man. This is because of media messages.”

Missick said that South’s legislation wrongly targeted The State Hornet.

“Two of the most disturbing pictures I have seen are the Rodney King beating and the Mexican trucking incident ... both times law enforcement was dealt with, not the press,” Missick said.