Editorial: Utilizing the Media

On April 29, the Record Enterprise reported that Plymouth State University officials plan to build a new Residence Hall for upperclassmen. On April 27, the Laconia Citizen published the Spring Fling itinerary for this weekend’s festivities. The student body may or may not know about either of these changes or events, and neither do we.The Clock was founded as a conduit between students and the administration, working together to keep the students informed of local, regional, and state changes. The Clock was also used to inform students and administrators of organizational events and special occasions happening on and off campus. That’s what we used to do.We’ve written editorials on apathy before, blatantly calling the student body lazy and the administration unconcerned. We’ve been blamed as part of the problem. And now the administration and student organization would rather bite the hands that feed them and then move on to a new master.There is no argument strong enough, no intense debate that could be held to combat the transparent disregard of the administration for the student newspaper that was founded to represent the students and the college. Leaking information to other newspapers shows inconsideration – yet we have worked diligently to uphold the image of the university and its student population. Allowing other newspapers to publish stories without so much of a word to the newspaper that represents your campus shows distrust – yet we have trusted the administration and the student body to provide us with the information needed to enlighten our student body.Journalism is a competitive business. The Laconia Citizen publishes daily, The Record Enterprise the day before our own paper goes to print. They practice good reporting skills and are able to cover many events around the state that we, due to funding, distance and limited staff, cannot. As a student newspaper, we strive for a professionalism that may rival the larger newspapers in New Hampshire. That goal is simply impossible when our own administration and student organizations will not give us the chance.Plymouth State is marketed as a community, a family environment. A family does not ignore the needs of one child in favor for another. That’s favoritism. And that is what will maintain the shoddy relationship of one media outlet with the rest of the campus. Would you want your child to runaway underground?