Current faculty adviser of The North Wind Cheryl Reed and 2015-16 editor in chief candidate and current managing editor of The North Wind Michael Williams were both denied hiring for the next academic year in a 5-4 vote at the board meeting held Friday, April 3.
Current editor in chief Emma Finkbeiner was not allowed in the interview of Michael Williams or in the discussion of his candidacy following due to the ruling of an “executive session.” Finkbeiner is not considered a part of the board due to her non-voting status. The discussion of the rehiring of Reed was not listed on the agenda.
During Finkbeiner’s interview for editor in chief in December 2014, then editor in chief Katie Bultman was a part of the interview and discussion process.
A more in-depth story will follow soon.
NMU Grad • Apr 14, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Greg Peterson is right.. The NorthWind was on the right track to being a good newspaper that investigates stories. Unfortunately, the powers that be are working hard to put an end to that. This spineless news reporting is commonplace in Marquette. Reporters never ask the right questions of the people they are interviewing. Its all lets play nice.
Student @ NMU • Apr 10, 2015 at 12:40 am
The fact that the news paper uncovered underhanded actions by NMU and it’s board multiple times should prove to future students and parents of future students where the priorities remain in the school. Tuition increases, yet faculty quality decreases. Since my time at Northern Michigan University this is the 4th truly great educator that has been a voice of the students to be told to pack their bags. This school is concerned with watching the dollars and making no sense. The decisions of this educational institution have been down right sickening. Furthermore, as a student paying money and as an educational institution federal receiving Federal Subsidies, funded from taxes, a level of transparency regarding budgetary items should exist.
Brice Burge • Apr 7, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Someone did FOIA the North Wind and found out a host of other problems. Also this ousting was done in an illegal meeting. http://marquettesocialscene.com/north-winds-board-meeting-to-oust-advisor-illegal/
Greg Peterson • Apr 5, 2015 at 2:52 am
The North Wind in recent months has been trying to be a real newspaper instead of the campus PR sheet – and for that they should be applauded.
As a 40-year veteran in the news business (most recently news director at TV10 and owner of my owner two news services), I can tell you not only do the “powers that be” try to stop investigative reporting – but sadly the public in the U.P. is mostly apathetic.
Many college graduates who think they are journalists really have been taught to just re-write press releases and not ask questions.
Being a journalist was a calling when I started at age 15 in 1977 – and fortunately I had some great mentors.
Real reporters should be watchdogs for the public good – instead of lapdogs – who are just lapping up press releases with little understanding of the story – thus letting down the viewers/readers.
I do not know the politics at the North Wind – but any effort to be a real newspaper should be supported by students and NMU staff.
I had one recent NMU university grad (and another TV10 reporter since gone) say by asking tough questions to elected officials they were worried the politicians might “get mad” and never call them back for future stories.
That’s just sad for future journalism – and considering the amount of money spent on their so-called education.
I have another issue about NMU leadership:
The sad state of affairs with top leadership at the NMU multicultural center is a pity but I finally got several African American students to be on two half hour shows at TV-10 with no help from the center director in January 2015.
The center director ignored my phone calls looking for guests for the shows – and then tried to stop my guests from appearing by making threats. She should retire or resign.
One show on minorities and police relations (in the wake of Ferguson) and a show on NMU MLK events and Black History Month. It was the first time in the history of the U.P. that African Americans were given this much air time to speak their views on serious matters.
.
Jody D • Apr 4, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Kudos to its b.o.d. for finally doing something about the dismaying state of affairs at the Northwind. As an NMU alumnae, community member, and reader of the paper for over twenty years, I cannot recall ever knowing that there was a student advisor, let alone who the person was. And now, in the latest issue, readers are subjected to this advisor’s defensive explanation of her role, including repeated assertions about her minimal editorial involvement at the paper in–get this–an editorial guest column! Enough’s enough. I’m really not interested in hearing the advisor’s grandiose revelations of, among other things, being hit on by a (nameless) presidential candidate. Perhaps now the Northwind can get on with it’s proper mission of providing a positive journalistic and learning experience FOR ITS STUDENTS.
Eli Wolf • Apr 4, 2015 at 11:41 am
This is ridiculous, and they wonder why I always throw away my alumni donation form.
Cheryl Reed • Apr 4, 2015 at 9:33 am
In answer to Ron French’s question, I was not told that the board would be discussing my appointment. The agenda says “Interview for Editor in Chief, Michael Williams” and the second line says “2015-16 Appointments.” We were told we would be discussing the new vacancies for students on the board, which we didn’t discuss. The English Department already has me assigned to teach journalism in the newsroom (Practicum) and advising The North Wind next fall. So, this reappointment was not something I was aware of. I see this as retaliation for the hard news my student have covered this year. And to deny the only qualified candidate a position is ridiculous since none of the board members even know what happens at a newspaper. It’s an insult to the independence of the editorial freedom of the paper.
Alan • Apr 4, 2015 at 8:52 am
What a shameful and disgusting decision by the board. I have heard nothing but good things about Mrs. Reed and the great lessons she has taught her young journalists. They get it, the board does not. The ignorant student body who leaves baseless comments on how they applaud the “student led” decision does not get it. They’ll never get it.
Greg Stricharchuk • Apr 4, 2015 at 12:02 am
-30- You might as well fold the North Wind. You’ve put a big stake into the heart and spirit of a little paper that was becoming a watchdog, so important in this day and age when spin seems to outweigh the search for truth. And you’ve lost a gifted adviser who was helping train students to become journalists. She was supporting and defending her students, unlike your board. Shame on your board. What a tragic loss for your school, and for journalism.
Ron French • Apr 3, 2015 at 11:36 pm
Aubrey, as chair of the board, could you share whether “2014-15 appointments” at a similar board meeting last year included, without specific mention in the advance published agenda, a vote on the advisor? And also, it would be helpful if you could explain why the editor in chief was allowed to be in the room and take part in discussion about the appointment of the next editor in chief last year (if the article is correct on this fact), and why that same procedure was not followed this year? Also, it would be helpful to know whether Ms. Reed knew a vote on her employment was going to occur at this meeting? If she did, then this may be much ado about nothing. If she didn’t, I would ask that the chair of the board explain to readers why she was not informed, and what procedure had been followed in the past with votes on appointment/reappointment of advisors.
Could you provide context to clarify this situation?
Gabriel Caplett • Apr 3, 2015 at 11:09 pm
That’s a shame. The North Wind’s advisor has a lot of journalism experience. I guess that’s not what the campus is looking for in a newspaper. Dissent or even disagreement isn’t tolerated well in this part of the U.P. so the treatment of the North Wind (despite how bumbling the administration’s response to open records requests and dissent has been) has not been surprising. I hope the North Wind prevails or that an independent publication can result from all of this. From what I’ve seen, the students working at the North Wind are for the most part not journalism students but have done a pretty good job and their work has been reflecting a widespread unease for how things are handled at NMU generally. Students put in four years and spend money to attend NMU; they are right to expect more out of it.
Aubrey Kall • Apr 3, 2015 at 8:27 pm
As the chairperson of the board I would like to offer some clarification. The vote for the appointment of Cheryl Reed as adviser was actually denied with 5 against, 3 for and 1 abstention. The discussion of her reappointment occurred under the line item “2015-2016 Appointments” when discussion regarding the Editor in Chief, Student Board Members and the Adviser for 2015-2016 were held. The agendas for the Board of Directors are available 48 hours in advance on the North Wind website.
J-school grad • Apr 3, 2015 at 8:17 pm
I hope they have good attorneys. Last time I check, an ex-officio member was still allowed to participate in closed sessions, unless bylaws specifically contravened Robert’s Rules of Order. Time for an independent student newspaper to start up.