WQAQ 98.1 FM : The Soundtrack of Quinnipiac

By: Scott Sheahen

Is the First Amendment right being taken away at Quinnipiac?

According to Quinnipiac University’s student-run newspaper, The Chronicle’s, fact sheet, Quinnipiac University President, John Lahey, asked The Chronicle not to publish on the website before publishing in print[i]. According to another Chronicle article Student media [was] just doing [its] job, Lahey said he would like to know what The Chronicle is publishing before it’s released online[ii].

Last year The Chronicle published an online story about a campus incident involving a student-athlete. Lahey was unaware of what had happened the day before and was questioned by outside media outlets. When asked to comment about the news on his own campus he was both ill informed and shocked the student ran paper went against wishes and published the article online, breaking not only from school policy but also from a routine. Lahey later admitted he does not visit the website regularly but rather picks up the hard copy. The online publication opened the floor to other media outlets to question President Lahey, who was unable to field many questions, making him look like he doesn’t know what happens on his own campus.

In September The Chronicle ran a series of stories about the racial incidents on campus. President Lahey’s response to the racist acts was, "I don't know if it was a crime or not, but it doesn't matter." The quote continues, “…the student would be expelled from the university.”[iii] The uses of the “I don’t know if it was a crime or not,” quote has been used and misused by different media sources throughout the area. For example, Anastacia Tucker, President of QU’s Black Student Union, said, “Why would he say it doesn't matter (if it was a crime or not)?”[iv] It doesn’t matter if it’s a crime because Lahey doesn’t have the authority to send someone to jail. However, he can remove them from the university. This seemed to be clear when he said, “the student would be expelled from the university.” There have been many interpretations of what Lahey has been trying to get across. Much of the interpretations have come from students working for The Chronicle.

Later in October President Lahey made a policy saying no media outlet, including the student ran paper could interview the administration without going through the Office of Public Affairs.[v] A policy the paper found to be appalling, even though most businesses and other schools have representatives that deal with the media. After being misrepresented by the media numerous times is the change really surprising?

On October 24th The Chronicle spoke out against Lahey in Lahey: Student media hinders progress. They quoted Lahey saying, "So I guess the challenge for us now is how in today's world we can really have a good discussion with the students about important topics, but not have it be a press conference to the world, where I have absolutely no control."[vi]

It looks to me that Lahey wants to talk to the student body, but doesn’t want their discussions posted for outsiders to see. He doesn’t want outsiders to make false judgments about the university, because I’m sure that hasn’t already happened.

A writer for the Waterbury’s Republican-American got wind of this story and took it to a new level. In the same October 24th issue, Jason Braff, Melissa Moller, and David Westerberg crossed the line when they openly badmouthed President Lahey in Open letter to President Lahey.[vii]

They said, “In a public forum, whatever takes place is public.”[viii] What Lahey is saying is it’s free for anyone at Quinnipiac to show up, but the contents are private to the University. In other words, Lahey is saying that no one has permission to quote him without his consent. Maybe as a president he’s asking for too much?

Braff, Moller, and Westerberg ended with, “If the university would like to treat us as outside media, then we would expect to have the same access to distribution platforms and the same rights that they do.”[ix] If I am reading this correctly, they are asking President Lahey to ignore them. It becomes hard to treat students as professionals when they’re not and when they expect more then what the professionals are getting.

The Republican-American ran a story, Quinnipiac University to student editor: Criticize us and you're fired[x]. It was no surprise that Lahey wasn’t quoted in the story. Why? To be misinterpreted again? At least this time it would have been by a professional. Instead Dean of Student’s Manuel C. Carreiro said, “It is important that you recognize with leadership comes responsibility.”[xi] Carreiro might be referring to the six stories published on Halloween badmouthing President Lahey. I can understand one or two, but six? Students work on a newspaper, not an editorial weekly. Chris Kurker-Stewart wrote one of the articles titled QU is not a business. Quinnipiac is clearly not a business. If it were Jason Braff and The Chronicle would be out of work.

In Quinnipiac University to student editor: Criticize us and you're fired, it was mentioned that Braff gets paid $8,000 for being Editor-In-Chief of The Chronicle. That would make President Lahey his boss. He published six stories in one issue badmouthing his boss. How does he still have his job? And to continue to badmouth him and have a job, is that professional?

Thank you Kurker-Stewart for saving Braff’s job by reminding the administration that they’re not a business. If I can remember correctly, Braff asked to be treated like an outside media source. That would mean Braff would lose his $8,000 paycheck and The Chronicle would lose their main source of funds to publish, Quinnipiac.

But, because Quinnipiac gives the main funding for The Chronicle and Braff receives an $8,000 check, they have to learn how to not upset the boss. That’s just Business 101. Maybe they don’t offer that class here.

However, Q30 and WQAQ haven’t done anything to upset the boss. The only way that freedom of speech will be oppressed on Quinnipiac is if the administration bans Q30 and WQAQ from speaking freely. Once Quinnipiac’s administration hinders other student organizations’ progress then that’s when the Quinnipiac student body needs to get involved.

The Chronicle should be thankful Lahey respects you enough to not pull the plug. One student posted on the Support Jay Braff and the Chronicle Facebook group, “Maybe if you started writing professionally instead of the high school quality newspaper that you put out, professors, students and President Lahey would take you seriously… the question at hand isn't freedom of press but taking responsibility for your mistakes.”

Don’t let this problem get in the way of reporting the news. You already missed one major event when you failed to inform the student body of Senator Chris Dodd coming onto our campus. Maybe that story wasn’t newsworthy, but six articles on Lahey; well c’mon when is that not newsworthy? The Chronicle sees itself as a paper filled with journalists, merely doing their jobs. “We are translating the hours spent in our Quinnipiac journalism classes into experience”[xii]. Poor showings on the papers reflects badly on teachers, administrators and the writers, it’s time to see some journalism, some reporting, not just gossip because I didn’t learn how to do that in the classroom.

End Notes:

[i] Butters, Kendra. Chronicle Fact Sheet. The Quinnipiac University Chronicle. 1-3.

[ii] Kinnaw, Carole. "Student Media Just Doing Their Jobs." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 31 Oct. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .

[iii] Braff, Jason. "Lahey Speaks on Campus Diversity." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 12 Sept. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .

[iv] Braff, Jason. "Lahey Gathers Mixed Reviews." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 19 Sept. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .

[v] Butters, Kendra. Chronicle Fact Sheet. The Quinnipiac University Chronicle. 1-3.

[vi] Butters, Kendra. Chronicle Fact Sheet. The Quinnipiac University Chronicle. 1-3.

[vii] Braff, Jason, Melissa Moller, and David Westerberg. "Open Letter to President Lahey." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 24 Oct. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .

[viii] Braff, Jason, Melissa Moller, and David Westerberg. "Open Letter to President Lahey." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 24 Oct. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .

[ix] Braff, Jason, Melissa Moller, and David Westerberg. "Open Letter to President Lahey." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 24 Oct. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .

[x] O’Rourke, Matthew. “Quinnipiac University to student editor: Criticize us and you're fired.” Republican-American 13 Nov 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 < http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/11/13/
news/297521.txt>

[xi] O’Rourke, Matthew. “Quinnipiac University to student editor: Criticize us and you're fired.” Republican-American 13 Nov 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 < http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/11/13/
news/297521.txt>

[xii] Braff, Jason, Melissa Moller, and David Westerberg. "Open Letter to President Lahey." The Quinnipiac University Chronicle 24 Oct. 2007. 26 Nov. 2007 .