Dean apologizes for use of Convo as forum; SGA president defiant.
By Christina Littlefield
Graduate Assistant
Student Government Association President Ben Elliott stepped up to the microphone in between songs by the Christian band Ten Shekel Shirts at Wednesday’s Convocation and delivered an eight-minute tirade against the Graphic student newspaper.
It is thought to be the first time a student from one organization has ever used Convocation — usually a time of prayer and inspirational words that are meant to draw the student body together — to degrade another student organization.
Elliott responded to the Graphic’s criticism of SGA in a staff editorial in last week’s edition, as well as what Elliott deemed were critical news articles on the budget and on the new SGA policy on Wave of the Week.
In his address to the student body, Elliott criticized the paper by saying “the Graphic seems more concerned with digging up and printing the latest rumor to win a collegiate newspaper award than engaging the student body in important issues and providing a forum for change.”
The editorial criticized SGA for passing an incomplete budget off campus at a private retreat, making the meeting inaccessible for students. The editorial was also critical of misinformation given to Graphic SGA reporter Audrey Reed that caused her to miss the majority of the meeting.
The Graphic had protested the off-campus meeting through Reed the Tuesday before, and cited specifically in the editorial that holding the meeting off campus denied the democratic process and requested that SGA hold another budget meeting on campus.
Staff editorials represent the view of the majority of the Graphic staff and are discussed and approved by the Graphic editorial staff and then written by one staff member.
The 17-member editorial staff — which is comprised of all section page editors, photography and art editors as well as the editor in chief — then review the submitted opinion article before it is published.
Graphic Editor in Chief Laurie Babinski and Student Publications Adviser Dr. Michael Jordan said they and the staff stand behind the editorial.
Babinski said that it is the job of the press to check the activities of government.
“The editorial in question raised a valid point, I thought,” Jordan said. “Should the meeting that divides up student activity money be held off campus with limited notice or access? That’s a fundamental question that is worth some debate. The Graphic staff thought SGA made a mistake and said so in an editorial in the Opinions section, which is exactly the proper place to comment. Every newspaper in America has an Opinions section with such editorials.”
Elliott’s speech, which referred to the Graphic as a “printed Peppervine” and insinuated that the Graphic digs up the negative merely to win collegiate fame among national newspapers.
Jordan responded to the charge.
“The Graphic wins awards not because any editor here seeks out controversy, though controversial subjects are always a part of the news,” Jordan said. “Ninety-five percent of what is in the Graphic is not controversial at all. The various articles reflect student life here at Pepperdine and provide a public service to our Pepperdine community.
“The national awards come to the Graphic because of the content in all five of its sections — news, opinions, lifestyles, arts and entertainment and sports,” Jordan added. “It’s a comprehensive student newspaper, and media professionals across the country recognize the hard work and diligence it takes to publish a quality college paper.”
Elliott’s speech pointed out two Graphic inaccuracies in the staff editorial and SGA article that the Graphic corrected on page A2 this week. The staff reported that the budget meeting ran nearly four hours when it was an hour and a half, and that the meeting started at 9 a.m. Babinski said that many of his other statements were false.
“In my four years at the Graphic, students have often been interested in the SGA budget because it is student money, and a staff reporter and students have attended budget meetings in the past,” Babinski said. “At the same time, the Graphic has covered many of the SGA accomplishments Ben Elliott said in his speech we had ignored. We had a photo spread on the lighting of the Theme Tower in addition to multiple articles on the Sand Bar and the visitation hour resolutions.”
Jordan agreed, adding that SGA “enjoys more column inches in the news section each week than any other student organization.”
Babinski had personally discussed the article with SGA Treasurer Amie Shaw and SGA Secretary Stefanie Wissman, who writes a 350-word fashion column every other week for the Lifestyles section. Elliott made no attempt to contact her or any other Graphic editor prior to the speech, but he said Wednesday night that he had e-mailed the SGA reporter. Elliott also phoned Student Publications Manager Tammy Guerra Friday morning requesting the Graphic budget. The budget, as part of the Communication Division, is not released to even Graphic staff members and is fully controlled by Guerra, Jordan and Communications Division Chair Dr. Milt Shatzer.
Babinski said she invites dialogue from SGA members and all members of the Pepperdine community.
“The Graphic has a statement on our wall from the Pepperdine Mission Statement ‘that truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly,’ ” Babinski said. “I believe that passionately and invite any student to use our editorial pages as a forum to express their point of view.”
Most students sat in silence through Elliott’s speech, though several students in the front four rows – filled with SGA members and members of Elliott’s fraternity – cheered. A few boos could also be heard, specifically when Elliott, defending SGA Treasurer Amie Shaw, said that the Executive Board was “way out of (The Graphic’s) league.”
Elliott also personally attacked former SGA Treasurer Ben Veenendaal for his comments in the Graphic articles.
“I deeply regret that the students of Pepperdine had to witness such an episode at Convocation, a time reserved for student enrichment and campus community,” Veenendaal said after Elliott’s speech. Veenendaal was not at the Convocation but learned of the speech immediately following.
“It is neither my intent nor my desire to make this a divisive issue, but I do wish to hold SGA accountable to the students,” Veendendaal continued. “ My goal has been and continues to be one that furthers the Christian mission of Pepperdine University and I will continue to focus on issues that have the potential to better the university community.”
Several students e-mailed the Graphic their support after the incident and forwarded to e-mails sent to Elliott to the Graphic throughout Wednesday in response to his Convo speech, many appalled at the forum Elliott chose to air his thoughts.
“I feel that the diatribe of the Graphic during Convocation was uncalled for
and inappropriate,” wrote senior advertising major Shelley Utter. “If they did in fact print some inaccurate facts about SGA, Ben (and the rest of the elected SGA) very willingly entered politics, and I think he needs to get used to being criticized by the media.
“And next time he want to voice his disapproval of the Graphic’s actions, he should write a rebuttal article, or give a calm, tasteful speech at Convo defending SGA, but not sitting there and making fun of his fellow students,” Utter continued. “The attempt to rile up the crowd and have them clap with mutual hatred for their friends on the Graphic staff reminded me of Hitler during a World War II speech.
“SGA needs to set an example for the school, and although they should be able to defend their actions when they feel they have been treated unfairly, they also need to show that they support all the different organizations at Pepperdine, including the many hardworking students on the Graphic staff,” Utter continued.
Elliott chose Convocation as a forum to air his views because he said the Graphic was adequately representing SGA.
“It was due to the silence of the Graphic to not represent the SGA’s side that prompted me to bring it to the community’s attention at the Convocation,” he said Wednesday night in a phone interview. He maintained that what he said in his speech was accurate.
One student also called the Graphic to ask if any of the allegations Elliott made against the Graphic were true, and said that he thought the Graphic had been too harsh of SGA in its editorial but declined to give his full name.
Junior Ashley Miller said she hadn’t read the articles but said she appreciated Elliott’s straightforwardness.
“He had the right to defend SGA,” Miller said.
Freshman Deidra Rouland said she is uncertain of whom to believe after reading the Graphic articles and listening to Elliott’s speech.
“If the Graphic isn’t giving the accurate information, then (Elliott) has the right to clarify it in Convo,” Rouland said. “But if he’s saying that the Graphic is untrue and the Graphic is saying that he is untrue, then who are you to believe?”
Dean of Students Dr. Mark Davis and Associate Dean of Student Activities Tabatha Jones followed Babinski, the Graphic editor, out of the Firestone Fieldhouse after she walked out to apologize for the forum Elliott used to air his criticisms. Davis met with Elliott immediately after Convocation but it was unclear Wednesday if Elliott would face any type of sanction for his actions.
“We regret that Convocation was used as a forum to respond to recent Graphic articles about SGA,” Davis said in a formal statement later. “Convocation is a forum for building community and affirming Christian values. We’ve made it clear that other forums must be used to resolve disputes. Tabatha Jones and I have already had private conversations with both parties. Based on these discussions, we’re confident that neither SGA nor the Graphic want this issue to divide our community and will do all they can to resolve this in an appropriate manner.
“To this end,” Davis continued, “We’ve offered to bring together representatives from the Graphic and SGA to address their concerns. We know that the current conflict can be resolved, because both organizations are deeply committed to the common good of the Pepperdine community.”
October 03, 2002