The Shield looks back to look forward
The Shield alumni will gather in Carter Hall on Saturday to reflect on 40 years of a free press at the University of Southern Indiana.
As I meet the former editors, writers, photographers, copy editors, advertising managers, and advisors, I plan to thank them for their involvement with the student press and for contributing to the lofty mission of this young university.
After sifting through The Shield archive, I can testify to their dedication to providing an outlet for information and opinions relevant and valuable to students.
Throughout the pages of The Shield’s 854 issues the students reflected the campus’ social and political landscape, traced the university’s growth in enrollment and building construction, and reported on campus conflicts and controversies.
The editors didn’t realize it at the time, but the product of their late nights in The Shield office would become a record of the university’s history.
But the student newspaper is more than a historical record – it is a training ground for student journalists.
Although The Shield is not directly affiliated with the journalism program (we are funded through advertising dollars and student services), it is a laboratory for our journalism students – a very public laboratory.
When a chemistry student breaks a test tube or miscalculates a formula, only the lab instructor and a few classmates bear witness. When an editor at The Shield makes a mistake, the error is magnified – it appears in the 2,500 copies of the newspaper distributed across campus for anyone to see.
I’m often asked why, as the advisor, I don’t try to prevent those errors by copy editing or approving the paper before it goes to press.
When given the opportunity (such as this one), I explain that student journalists at public universities are protected by law from prior review from administrators and – to the surprise of many – from the publication advisor.
This point was underscored in 2005, when President Hoops signed a statement declaring The Shield a designated public forum. The move was a response to the Hosty vs. Carter decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which opened the door for university administrators to exert more editorial control over student publications.
As a journalism instructor I teach students how to report, write, and copy edit; how to make news decisions that are both legal and ethical; and how to respond to criticism of their work.
As the newspaper advisor, I stand on the sidelines, coaching, encouraging, and making suggestions, but ultimately leaving every decision up to them. When they do something well, they get the credit, and when they do something wrong they take the responsibility.
So if you see something you like, or something you don’t, let them know. The Shield is your public forum. You can write a letter to the editor, leave a comment on the web site (www.usishield.com), or, if you’re a student, you can get involved.
As The Shield celebrates its 40th anniversary, I celebrate my first anniversary as its advisor. I could not be more proud of the talent, intelligence and courage of USI’s student journalists.
Thanks for reading The Shield.
POST CONTRIBUTED BY: ERIN GIBSON, instructor in journalism and advisor to The Shield.