The Black & Magenta Vol. 120 Issue 22

Volume 120 Issue 22 Friday, March 18, 2016

OrbitMediaOnline.com

Special Edition: Sunshine Week

New Concord Village Council meetings focus on issues important to local community Brenna Busby Editor-in-Chief New Concord Village Council meetings happen on the second Monday of every month and because of sunshine laws they are open to the local community.

As the New Concord Village Administrator, Charlotte Colley attempts to draw the public into the meetings by dispersing the meetings agendas ahead of time.

“I think it is very important.

We put the agendas out. We try to get them out early so that folks know what is on the docket,” said Colley.

Some issues are more important than others, and people are more invested in the outcome.

Colley said those are the meetings when she wants to see community members in attendance.

“If there are any items that they have concerns about or have an interest in then we welcome citizen participation,” said Colley.

She said that citizen concern is an integral part of the local government process.

“I think that it is important because the council members are elected to represent the village but sometimes they don’t always hear all of the different perspectives,” said Colley. “Therefore, [council members] can’t make those perspectives known if they haven’t heard them.”

Colley also said that people can improve local government.

Students welcome to Senate Chris Morgan Sports Editor

Student Senate serves as a liaison between the students and the administration at Muskingum University, voicing student concerns and wants to the higher administrators on campus.

“Our goal is to make ourselves aware of the needs, wants, and wishes of our constituents to the best of our ability,” said President of Student Senate Executive Board, Maggie Hale.

According to Hale, a large portion of Senate’s responsibility is to ensure that the money from the student activity fee is being spent according to the funding guidelines. Hale said that the money is spent mostly on programming aimed to engage Muskingum students outside of academic classes.

Hale encourages current Muskies to attend the weekly meetings and be informed about the issues

being discussed. Senate meetings have always been open to the student population according to Hale, but space in the current location has not allowed for much student attendance.

“Nearly every seat in the room is filled with Senators, which doesn’t allow for many guests,” said Hale. “However, we encourage any student who wishes to attend to please join us and we will make sure everyone has a place to sit.”

If students do attend, they will be able to see how the money from the student activity fee is distributed to organizations.

Hale said that many students are involved in organizations that request money from Student Senate, but do not fully understand the process.

See SENATE, Continued on Page 2

“We want to know what community members are happy about and what they are not happy about,” said Colley. “That’s the way we get better.”

All Village Council meetings are open except for executive session meetings. Executive sessions are outlined as nonpublic in the Ohio Revised Code.

Colley said that despite the openness, not many village residents attend the meetings.

“I don’t have a problem at all with the open meeting style,” said Colley. “I think we could do a better job of advertising and getting information out to folks.”

To combat the low attendance Colley is thinking about holding “citizen engagement meetings.”

Nothing has been decided on that front as of yet.

“We are going to invite stakeholders from around the community and say ‘come talk to us about this topic,’’’ said Colley.

In the future, Colley hopes to move the Village Council Meetings to the Village Hall basement to allow room for more people to attend the meetings.

She said that they would have to renovate for that to happen.

“It’s must bigger and has easier access for folks,” said Colley.

“I think it would be a much better option but we just have to get everything done.”

The next meeting is on Monday, April 11 and will take place in Village Hall on Main St.

www.sunshineweek.org

What is Sunshine Week?

•National campaign that started in 2005.

•Sunshine Laws require some government meetings and agencies to be open and available to the public.

•All 50 states have their own specific Sunshine Laws.

•Educates about the importance of open government and transparency with information.

•There is a focus on the Freedom of Information Act and the laws within government that apply to journalists’ rights.

•Created by the American Society of News Editors. Now it is in conjunction with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

•Requires agencies and organizations to give advanced notice of their meetings and proceedings, with the exception of Executive Sessions.

News

Page 2 SENATE, Continued from Page 1 However, Senate offers a lot more than just funding different organizations on campus.

“If there are other concerns raised by the student body, Senate is a great place to come and make their voices heard,” said Hale.

Student Senate meetings are held every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Walter K. Chess Center, Room 304. Hale strongly encourages her fellow students to attend the weekly Senate meetings.

If students cannot make it to a weekly meeting, Hale encourages students to reach out to a Senator and tell them about their concerns or ideas by stopping in the Student Senate office in the Top of the Center, or reaching Senate by email at senate@muskingum.edu.

Students can also watch and listen to the weekly meetings on Orbit TV Channel 96-204 and on WMCO 90.7.

The Black & Magenta • Orbit Media

Private schools should shine more light Christine Holmes Assignment Editor Freedom of the press as granted by the First Amendment is one right journalists across the country value, but it does not apply at Muskingum University.

It doesn’t apply at any private university. Students at private schools have limited press freedom that is determined by the institution itself.

Although schools like Muskingum have limited press rights, it doesn’t have to be that way, according to Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center, Frank LoMonte.

“The fact that you’re not covered by a state open records law doesn’t mean that your records have to be kept confidential, it just means that they can be,” said LoMonte.

Students at public universities have legal access to information regarding university finances and decisions, as well as Board of Trustees meetings, but those rights do not necessarily apply at private institutions since funding for private schools doesn’t come from the public.

“The foundational purpose of having open government laws is to keep track on how people’s business is being done,” said LoMonte.

He added that state universities such as Ohio State and Kent State have a better argument for open records since those institutions spend a significant amount of public money.

“The public has a compelling interest in knowing how their money is being spent and how these government officials are using their governmental authority,” said LoMonte.

The case, according to LoMonte, is harder to defend when applied to private institutions.

However, he argues those who live and work at private campuses think of themselves of citizens of those communities and they are highly influenced by the campus decision makers.

“A lot of times the president of your college has much more influence on your life than the mayor of your town,” said LoMonte.

He said although private institutions are not legally required to be transparent, they can and should be voluntarily.

He further stated many institutions already share more than the bare minimum information required by the law.

According to LoMonte, communities benefits from institutional transparency, not just the student journalists and news entity at the university.

Society of Professional Journalists kick off Sunshine Week Brenna Busby Editor-in-Chief Sunshine Week is a national event that the Muskingum University Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), a national organization for journalists, celebrated March 13-19.

Sunshine Week is a national program to promote the importance of open government and freedom of information.

According to SPJ Advisor, Lisa Marshall, Sunshine Week is a good educational event to help young journalists in their future careers outside of the University.

“Sunshine Week is important not only for local governing

bodies to understand reporters’ rights to freedom of information, but to also educate students,” said Marshall. “As intro level reports, students need to comprehend the important responsibility they have to report to the public what is happening in their community. Understanding local governmental transparency issues and Freedom of Information laws are some of the basic skills of an informed ethical reporter.”

Muskingum media majors are taught about the rights they have as journalists. Marshall said that Sunshine Week is a supplemental real-life addition to what they learn inside of the classroom.

“In its 11th year, we’re happy to

bring Sunshine Week to Muskingum University,” said Marshall.

“It’s something we discuss in journalism classes. Any time you can take textbook knowledge and allow students to see its implications demonstrated in real life is a win-win.

Orbit Media and SPJ worked together during Sunshine Week to host events to educate the entirety of the campus community.

“I’m very proud of our SPJ Officers for wanting to do more on campus to educate the community about Sunshine Week,” said Marshall. “I’m grateful to our campus and community governmental leaders who understand the rights journalists have to

freedom of information and work with Orbit Media to help us bring factual news to the public.”

Chris Morgan, President of SPJ said that Sunshine Week is the perfect opportunity to bring awareness to young journalists.

“SPJ is especially good for Sunshine Week because we’re one of many organizations that can directly help spread awareness,” said Morgan.

On Monday, March 14, SPJ hosted New Concord Police Chief Trevor Hayes and New Concord Fire Chief Brent Gates to kick off Muskingum Sunshine Week.

On March 15, Orbit Media and the Forensics team hosted an open house to the community.

Local Open Meetings East Muskingum Board of Education The second Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the District Center.

Muskingum County Commissioners Every Monday and Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Muskingum County Courthouse.

Zanesville City Council The second and fourth Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at Zaneville City Hall.

New Concord Village Council The second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Muskingum University Student Senate Every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in room 304 in the Walter K. Chess Center.

News

The Black & Magenta • Orbit Media

Defining First Amendment rights Associated Press

This is Sunshine Week in the U.S., when news organizations put a spotlight on the public’s right to know and size up the state of government openness and access to public records.

Cases moving through the courts range from whether Facebook “likes” and Twitter posts are protected speech (both are considered protected for the moment) to what speech rights businesses should have (they‘re expanding).

The mere definition of free speech is getting clouded: Are video games a kind of speech?

And what about computer-driven content like searches and automated stories? Put another way, can iPhone’s Siri claim First Amendment rights if she somehow libels you?

First amendment laws shaped over decades are colliding with modern privacy concerns. On some campuses, students are protesting against free speech.

There’s growing support for “right to be forgotten’’ laws that allow people to erase pieces of their past.

When a humorist gathered 50 signatures calling for repeal of the First Amendment as a joke last year at Yale, nobody should have been laughing.

The First Amendment has survived plenty of change in 225 years as it has adapted to telegraph, print, radio and television.

But those who follow the topic most closely say the information age is a whole new era.

How will the Internet alter free speech practices? There’s a lot of unsettled law about how speech and expression play out in a Facebook world. Scholars say rules

taking shape generally extend existing standards to the Internet.

The challenge will be figuring out when speech is altered by the Internet’s speed and reach.

“The Internet amplifies everything,’’ said Thomas Healy, a Seton Hall law professor. “It amplifies expression. It makes it more powerful, more dangerous, [and] more offensive.”

Early court decisions hold that data-driven communications, such as computer-assembled news and Google searches, are indeed protected forms of speech. Who’s advocating for the public’s interest?

We should be watching which players step up as a changing of the media guard takes place.

The newspaper and broadcast companies that championed speech and press rulings of the 20th century don’t have the power or the financial strength they once did. The dominant technology companies have not shown that same kind of stewardship as with the First Amendment.

“I worry,’’ said John E. Finn, the Wesleyan government professor who taught the Great Courses series on the First Amendment, “[Worried] about the lack of well-funded institutions advocating for openness.’’

Who controls how information moves? Just as important as who creates content will be who is distributing it, which is why the net neutrality rules approved by the Federal Communications Commission last year are under withering attack. The current rules say service levels and rates should be the same for all.

Internet providers say that curbs business options, while content creators say reversing this would give the Internet’s utilities

too much power over the marketplace that would lead, for instance, to download speeds based on your willingness to pay.

What will expanding business rights mean? Corporations have turned to the First Amendment to free themselves from limits on advertising, ingredient listings and political contributions.

Some critics say that the expansion of any speech rights serves all comers. Others say this shift goes against the intent to protect the rights of citizens against the powerful government and also from corporate interests.

And the final question, where do you stand?

Here the news is encouraging: The simple, 45 words covering religion, speech, press, petition and assembly is woven into our civil fabric. Polls consistently find overwhelming support for the First Amendment. Unlike other topics in public life, those sentiments cut across political, ethnic, age and economic lines.

Two-thirds of the world lives without religion and press freedom, and many countries are using technology to suppress rights.

This makes the American model an even greater beacon if we succeed in using technology to extend such freedoms.

“We have the gold standard,’’ said Alberto Ibarguen, director of the Knight Foundation, which funds media innovation around the world. “It’s our responsibility to make sure we maintain that.’”

The First Amendment did not find its place at the core of our rights without many struggles over two centuries. Sunshine Week is a good time to remember there are fresh battles ahead as technology grows.

Page 3

New Concord Fire and Police chiefs discuss on scene reporting

Christine Holmes/ Black & Magenta New Concord Fire Chief, Brent Gates, shows students involved in Orbit Media and The Society of Professional Journalist the CB radio located within the newsroom.

Payton Patterson Orbit Media Reporter The Village of New Concord Fire and Police Chiefs came to Muskingum University’s campus as part of The Society of Professional Journalist’s celebration of Sunshine Week.

New Concord’s Fire Chief, Brent Gates, and Chief of Police, Trevor Hayes, spoke to student journalists about scanner codes, how to interact with the officials during accidents, and good ways to build relationships with the New Concord officials.

“Respect what the guys are doing,” said Gates.

Gates said that the best way to handle accidents in relation to the media is to not get in the way of firefighters or police officers while working on a scene. He dis-

cussed how being respectful and patient is ideal for media personnel to act reporting at a scene.

“Pay attention to the caution tape,” said Hayes. “If we have it up it is for protection reasons.”

Both Gates and Hayes emphasized parking away from a scene and being out of the way of the paths for medical vehicles.

If an incident occurs on campus, officials can tell what is going on is a private matter and can request to not record the incident until further notice.

Both officials commented that the best way to make a good impression with the officials in the community is to build personal relationships with them. This can be done by stopping by, introducing themselves, and continuously to making good impressions while on scene.

Page 4

Opinion

The Black & Magenta • Orbit Media

Captain’s Quarters, Where did the MuskieLoudPack go?

The MuskieLoudPack student section made their first appearance on campus last fall during the volChris Morgan leyball season.

Sports Editor Ever since though, it seems like the group has simply disappeared, not to be seen or heard from again.

The reason is not known, and honestly it probably doesn’t need to be known. We just need a change. We need them back.

It’s a little disheartening to see the group go away after what they did for Muskie sports. They did everything they could to help will the volleyball team to a win over John Carroll.

The group filled The Recreation Center gymnasium during the volleyball game to its fullest since I’ve been at Muskingum, and it was incredible to see. The student body came together during that time, and Muskie sports have needed it ever since.

It’s pretty much a well-known and accepted fact that having a

true home-court advantage can help lift a team to new levels of competition in any given game.

The problem is, with the lack of attendance at games, it almost feels like home-court advantage doesn’t truly exist within Muskie sports without a student crowd in attendance at every game.

The average home attendance for mens basketball this year was 282 fans a game. The average was 167 fans for womens basketball.

Attendance isn’t officially recorded at wrestling meets, but by my estimation, it’s less than 75.

Sometimes more away fans show up than Muskingum students at any given athletic event.

It’s high time the MuskieLoudPack makes their return. The group’s presence is truly missed at games since their start.

The whole point of the MuskieLoudPack was to establish a well-rounded student section for Muskie atheltics, but in order to have a student section, students actually need to show up to the games and support their fellow Muskies on and off of the field.

This is a challenge to all

Muskingum students. Show up to the games, even if the team isn’t winning. Support your Muskie athletes, fellow students, friends.

Give the Muskies the homecourt advantage they deserve.

After all, the games are free for students if you have your student ID. So, there is literally nothing standing in the way.

The challenge is waiting. It is past time to bring the MuskieLoudPack back to the light.

The MuskieLoudPack group brings too much joy to athletics to be left behind in the dust.

Sunshine Week gives The Black & Magenta Editorial Staff the opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of the people in the community who make it possible to keep our organization running and flowing with news in the last year. There is a long list of people who we count on who take time out of their schedules to sit down with our reporters. We are able to do what we need to do because of the cooperation that we receive by the people we rely on in the community. We are especially thankful as young journalists because it gives us the chance to improve our skills and give back a solid product to the Muskingum and New Concord Community.

Adams, Dan Adams, Greg Allan, Stacey Allender, Debbie Arnold, Nicole Beetem, Judy Best, Melissa Boggs, Mindi Bohr, Jimmy Burlingame, Hal Burkholder, Taryn Callaghan, James Caudill, Mary Beth Caudill, Tom

Clark, Aaron Colley, Charlotte Dooley, Jim Donathan, Hallie Duncan, Joanna Edge, Jessica-Leigh Ellenberger, Sheila Essex, Brett Hasseler, Susan and Ken Ford, Gene Fox, Beth Gallagher, Nick Gates, Brent Gleason, Jacob

Hayes, Bethany Hayes, Trevor Heeter-Bass, Janet Huey, John Kelley, Andi Kerrigan, Bil Laube, Phil Lang, Rod Logan, Al Lutz, Matt Mullins, Will Mizer, Zach Mlikan, Amanda Morrow, John

New Concord Village Council Puch, Joe Rohrbacher, Josh Schwab, Travis Shank, Barb Shank, Larry Sheridan, Jill Siesel, Deven Smith, Doug Sommers, Andrea Spragg, Aaron Steele, Anne Student Senate

Thompson, Gregg Tucker-McCloud, Janice Vascura, Jackie Vincent, Danny Wagner, Kevin Walley, Ashley Waryck, Susan Weaver, Josh Weirich, Anne Wilson, Dan Winters, Kari Wharton, Beth Zicha, Elizabeth Zifzal, Amber

From us to you: Thank you!