The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Collegian hasn't been printed on the Coloradoan presses in two years, just so you know.

Originally posted by

Doug

It seems to me that this is a cautionary tale to student newspapers everywhere that unprofessional behavior has consequences. Just as poorly-run cafeterias have been outsourced on many campuses to fast-food chains, might not the quality of the paper actually improve with journalist leaders who know how to operate an orderly forum of ideas?

Please understand that a newspaper is not a fast-food restaurant. Who will define an "orderly forum of ideas" when the student newspaper is owned by an out-of-state corporation mainly interested in making money? And what happens if YOUR ideas are the ones considered out of order? Do you want The Collegian to look exactly like the Gannett-owned Florida student newspapers? That's precisely what happens with fast-food journalism.

Fast food is better than no food and right now the Collegian has the subscribers and students starving to death.

So if you kids would get rid of McSwane and his cursing no food cohorts then I would agree that this was a bad idea.

But until you do then yes some fast food is preferable to starving to death every time.

Thank you for making my point. You have been very helpful. LOL!

Originally posted by

Doug

It seems to me that this is a cautionary tale to student newspapers everywhere that unprofessional behavior has consequences. Just as poorly-run cafeterias have been outsourced on many campuses to fast-food chains, might not the quality of the paper actually improve with journalist leaders who know how to operate an orderly forum of ideas?

Originally posted by

Jared

Tom, how stupid are you?! For one, the Coloradoan frequently has Fort Collins news in it. Then there are a couple reasons why they have windsor and loveland news. 1) The Coloradoan distrbutes papers in those cities and for 2) Wake up, the city officials in both Windsor and Loveland are a HELL of a lot smarter then any officials in Fort Collins. Have you seen what those two towns are doing compared to Fort Collins? There can only be so many articles on how crappy the Foothills 'fashion' mall is, and how much money we're losing in tax dollars. IF anything, Gannett will come over and do great things, and believe it or not, but help by increasing tax dollars to Fort Collins, something that Fort Collins NEEDS. Oh and FYI- The Collegian has been a pile of crap for at least 4-5 years, it needs a change.

You have to be a sock puppet shill for the Coloradoan. I cannot believe any rational person could laud such praise on such an utter embarrassment of a newspaper for our community. Their circulation numbers have plummeted and many pink slips later there has been no signs of improvement under team Chin. So the status quo remains unchanged and anyone wanting serious local news continues to be forced to turn to the N. Colo. Business Report and Fort Collins Now. And you want this bunch to run the Collegian? And you think that this failing newspaper taking over the Collegian is going to bring new tax dollars to Fort Collins and provide a good example to the students? Hah!

And as a point of clarification, there is one key difference with Gannett running the student papers at Florida State University. FSU does not offer an undergraduate journalism program. It would be a travesty for the CSU journalism program to lose an entirely student run publication. Yes the Collegian has published poorly written stories and have made some major mistakes in the long history, but hasn't every student newspaper that has any degree of autonomy? Besides given the lackluster editing standards displayed by the Coloradoan, I surely wouldn't be expecting any improvement if Gannett does take over.

If the Collegian is the eyes , ears and voice of CSU then you are DEAF , DUMB AND BLIND!!!!!!!!

LOL!

Originally posted by

Kathy Lawrence

The newspaper at Colorado State belongs to the students of Colorado State. It serves as the eyes, ears and voice of the students collectively. The two newspapers in Florida that were sold to Gannett were private, for-profit entities that didn't fit the traditional model of student newspapers. While this sounds like a good business move for Gannett, it's truly a sad day for Colorado State and for the student body. Once publishers accountable to shareholders control what is ultimately printed, the students will no longer have a community voice of their own....unless, of course they can muster the money and advertising support to start one.

By this same twisted logic, the "CSU student body" and "taxpayers" can "hardly be expected to pick up the tab for a 'revenue gap'" for any other student activity, such as football, theater, marching band, women's volleyball, all of which can be viewed, wrongly, as a "financial burden". Do college theater productions cover all expenses? No? Then cut them out if you follow this reasoning, along with almost every college sport, club and activity. The educational process occurs in many places other than the classroom, and for over a century student media has been one of those places. It is one thing for a university to "contract out" basic services such as running the cafeteria--preparing cafeteria food is not an instrinsic part of college education. Preparing the student newspaper definitely is.

Ah Mike you say that the student paper and it's preparation are intrinsic to the environment. Well then if you take this wonderful intrinsic force and you create a trashy rag that teaches nothing and is not helpful or informative to the campus experience you do the campus and it's students a dis-service.

The powers that be have tried to allow the students to do the right thing , and they have failed miserably. It was the students that admonished McSwane. Last time I checked an Admonishment meant they were putting McSwane on notice that he had crossed the line even in the student run board. Then McSwane basically told the students and board to F OFF.

The boards response was a resounding silence even thought they had written evidence to hang McSwane and fire him. Thus by their inaction they give tacit approval to McSwane and his destruction of the very entity you find intrinsic to campus life.

So instead of railing against the sale of the Collegian what the hell have you done to take it back and show any one that you students can do the right thing.

Your student government and its enforcement of rules is a joke and has created anarchy at CSU. Enjoy.

Originally posted by

Registered Independent

Didn't the Collegian lose considerable advertising revenue due to the "Taser this" fiasco?

If so, then the Collegian editorial board are themselves responsible for this recent turn of events.

The CSU student body as a whole can hardly be expected to pick up the tab for a "revenue gap", thus jeopardizing funding for other student programs. And the taxpayers certainly aren't going to be interested.

Perhaps a partnership with a private sector publisher is the only viable way to keep the Collegian from becoming a financial burden upon the university as a whole.

This would be poetic justice, as well as providing a valuable learning experience for
journalism students. Which their journalism advisers apparently forgot to clue them about.

Whether public or private, the first rule of survival for every enterprise on earth is "Make Sure Thy Funding Is Secure, Before Proceeding On With Any Bright Ideas."

responsibility and critical thinking you say Linda. WHERE!

What you have at the Collegian now is complete Anarchy and irresponsibility. No critical thinking is taking place.

If there was you would be right but it is not happening so your point is moot. McSwane was admonished and he should have been by his own peers. If that had been the end of it I would have long ago relished the chance to never mention McSwanes name again. However after their admonishment , McSwane and his staff cursed many times and basically told the students and their government to F OFF!

This is the lesson you want to continue teaching unencumbered. That you can go outside the bounds , break rules you promised to live by , intimidate the governing body with lawsuits any time they try to enforce the rules , and then watch the law on campus crumble under the McSwane and Liberals abuse of the laws at CSU. That is ludicrous.

When a neighborhood riots and starts eating it's own you don't say let them learn by working it out by them selves. That is insane. You bring in the cops and you enforce the law.

Anarchy has been created and a complete break down of law and order is rampant at CSU. And you want to allow the ringleaders to further destroy the learning environment for the overwhelming majority there that really actually want to learn. They want to abide by the rules of their society on campus and get along with the diverse community they have created.

McSwane and his few colleagues and supporters are holding the to nice majority hostage. This is typical of the left. Break the law in an anti social way and then if any one dares to question you paint them as a censor , or against free speech. They are selfish little cowards that get off on the power of F'ing you and daring you to do anything about it.

Sad to say that so far most of the student body has failed to answer the call of decency and upholding the laws of CSU. Every one that has ever been punished by the student Government should be livid that they had to tow the line while McSwane openly taunts the student Board and tells them to F OFF while daring them to do a damn thing about it while threatening law suits.

In my opinion McSwane is nothing but a bully and thug as well as a coward. He is the worst of CSU and so far is being tolerated by the student body who then whines when there are consequences by the real world or adults at CSU that are supposed to be in charge of this asylum.

Your President has failed miserably , not by talking to the Coloradoan , but by not cracking down on McSwane and his colleagues the very first time they cursed in an article after being admonished by the Board. Shame on you sir. Your job is to allow as much freedom to these kids as they can responsibly handle. They are falling apart in front of you and crossed the line of decency and acceptable behavior miles ago. Yet you sit there allowing the inmates to run the asylum. How irresponsible of you.

I expect it from the kids. They are kids. But your the top adult on campus and you are supposed to know better. What kind of real world example do you set by mollycoddling these little punks. In the real world they will get cut off at the knees and they can look back and thank you for not caring enough about them to discipline them when you had a chance and teach them reality.

The shame is yours.

Originally posted by

LINDA S. PUNTNEY

Colorado State Collegian, like all college media, is a publication for the students by the students. Students make the news decisions, sell the ads, do the pre-press production, express opinion and tell the stories of the people and activities of Colorado State University. Do they make mistakes in the process? I'm certain they do but the lessons learned are far clearer because students had the experience of living with their decisions. That important educational experience about responsibility and critical thinking that student media has provided for 116 plus years is far more valuable than any purchase price Gannett might offer.

I doubt very seriously that no theatre production at CSU ever used the word "fuck" onstage. I doubt very seriously that no student art show at CSU ever depicted nudes or questionable subject matter. I am not defending the headline that got everyone in an uproar, but the educational process which includes the freedom to screw up now and then--or, on occasion, to create good things that happen to be offensive to some. I suppose you would cut off all theatre productions for all time if the students dared to stage a production of "Hair".

Originally posted by

Registered Independent

Well Mr. Taylor it is you who have used "twisted logic" to conveniently overlook the fact that none of those other student enterprises you mentioned have done anything so rash as to jeopardize their university funding.

The Collegian has been using the rationale that since it provides it's own funding through advertising, it is free to exercise it's own judgment, completely independent of any university oversight.

None of the other student programs you mentioned are making that claim. The other organizations are not accepting university funding while at the same time telling university officials to buzz off. They are also not taking public funding while at the same time threatening to sue if they are tampered with in the slightest.

So your comparison does not hold water.

Under the Collegian's circumstances of claiming a right to complete editorial independence, due to their unique financial independence, it was hardly brilliant of them to jeopardize that situation.

The "educational process" you mention does not provide students with a coddling, "protective cocoon" to shield them from the reality of the repercussions of ill-considered actions.

Which every other student organization obviously knows, and they conduct themselves accordingly.

Except the Collegian.

Wrong Mr. Taylor. You say that kids should be able to make one mistake. I agree. Where do you draw the line though. McSwane has published profanity like 5-10 times not one.

So you are off base and misinformed.

Originally posted by

Registered Independent

Well Mr. Taylor it is you who have used "twisted logic" to conveniently overlook the fact that none of those other student enterprises you mentioned have done anything so rash as to jeopardize their university funding.

The Collegian has been using the rationale that since it provides it's own funding through advertising, it is free to exercise it's own judgment, completely independent of any university oversight.

None of the other student programs you mentioned are making that claim. The other organizations are not accepting university funding while at the same time telling university officials to buzz off. They are also not taking public funding while at the same time threatening to sue if they are tampered with in the slightest.

So your comparison does not hold water.

Under the Collegian's circumstances of claiming a right to complete editorial independence, due to their unique financial independence, it was hardly brilliant of them to jeopardize that situation.

The "educational process" you mention does not provide students with a coddling, "protective cocoon" to shield them from the reality of the repercussions of ill-considered actions.

Which every other student organization obviously knows, and they conduct themselves accordingly.

Except the Collegian.

Here is an analogy for you. If you were taking care of your campus building then of course no corporate sponsors are necessary. But if you were trashing the buildings and they had deteriorated to uni habitable rubble then yes corporate sponsorship would be welcome.

I like the Captain Morgan Library though. How about the Captain Morgan Collegian. They are already a bunch of self admitted drunks that blow interviews and are proud of it. LMAO!

Oh how ones words come back to haunt you of foolish children of McSwane. Or as he so charmingly puts it his underlings.

Originally posted by

Jake W

After we sell off the Collegian, lets replace our teachers with vending machines that sell notes and Pepsi products. After that, we can let corporations sponsor CSU's buildings. I'm partial to 'Captain Morgan Library,' it has a good ring to it.

There are actually FOUR branches to Student Media; CTV, KCSU, Collegian, and College Avenue (student run quarterly magazine)

Originally posted by

Bobby

As a former Student Media employee... it hurts me to see any of the three branches be sold to a media giant. However, this year The Collegian has done nothing to prove to the University that a drastic step like this shouldn't be taken. Its not just F-Bush it has been any number of other problems, coupled with the massive and extreme arrogance shown by the paper's management. Dave McSwane and the rest of his cronies have presented such an arrogant front, and never willing to admit they have made a mistake, they're really just asking for this.

Is this a sad day for the Collegian and Student Media? Yes. But has the Collegian brought this upon themselves this year with their actions and arrogrance? You bet. Should the Collegian learn to admit when they made a mistake? YOU BET... Its long over due.

Wow so very well said Bobby. You sound like you have a real good head on your shoulders.

Originally posted by

Bobby

As a former Student Media employee... it hurts me to see any of the three branches be sold to a media giant. However, this year The Collegian has done nothing to prove to the University that a drastic step like this shouldn't be taken. Its not just F-Bush it has been any number of other problems, coupled with the massive and extreme arrogance shown by the paper's management. Dave McSwane and the rest of his cronies have presented such an arrogant front, and never willing to admit they have made a mistake, they're really just asking for this.

Is this a sad day for the Collegian and Student Media? Yes. But has the Collegian brought this upon themselves this year with their actions and arrogrance? You bet. Should the Collegian learn to admit when they made a mistake? YOU BET... Its long over due.

I read College Avenue. Nice publication. I really liked the statement I read by the female Editor. She was right on , and completely the opposite of McSwane.

I commend her for maintaining journalistic integrity and caring about her craft. News sources are an important part of our decision making process by providing usable data for us to analyze as part of our decision making process.

So when McSWane takes that sacred trust bestowed on him by his fellow students and selfishly flushes it down the toilet for his own amusement all of us should become irate. He has taken a stream of news to CSU and turned it into a polluted unusable quagmired of profanity and glorification of anti social and abhorrent behaviors.

I wish there were a few students with the guts and integrity to stand up to him and take this guy down a few pegs. He is holding your educational and harmony of your community hostage.

In his narcissistic self aggrandizing quest to glorify his own agenda over reporting the news , McSWane has taken the rights of all the students at the university and showed he could care less about them. All of you made your laws and rules at CSU , so when McSwane thumbs his nose at the Student ASCSU , he is doing so to every one on campus. He is saying that I David J McSWane will do as I please and maintain a position of power on campus whether you all like it or not. And if you dare to have the courage and conviction to do the right thing and fire him he threatens to sue you like the coward he really is.

Just a class guy isn't he.

Originally posted by

Bobby

As a former Student Media employee... it hurts me to see any of the three branches be sold to a media giant. However, this year The Collegian has done nothing to prove to the University that a drastic step like this shouldn't be taken. Its not just F-Bush it has been any number of other problems, coupled with the massive and extreme arrogance shown by the paper's management. Dave McSwane and the rest of his cronies have presented such an arrogant front, and never willing to admit they have made a mistake, they're really just asking for this.

Is this a sad day for the Collegian and Student Media? Yes. But has the Collegian brought this upon themselves this year with their actions and arrogrance? You bet. Should the Collegian learn to admit when they made a mistake? YOU BET... Its long over due.