Opinion
RLO attempts to keep students in dark
Story by Bill Oram | September 12, 2008
Montana Kaimin
It’s not just students seeking housing who are being given the cold shoulder by Residence Life these days. As the Kaimin learned Thursday, it’s reporters as well.
Bryan Gardner, a resident assistant, unceremoniously booted reporter Kayla Matzke and photographer Alisia Muhlestein from Craig Hall while they were pursuing today’s Page One update about the housing crisis at UM.
The incident shows a grave flaw in Residence Life’s policy.
Director Ron Brunell said Thursday afternoon that the reporter and photographer’s actions were consistent with “door-to-door solicitation,” which is prohibited in Residence Life’s handbook.
The First Amendment remains journalists’ primary recourse when it comes to the pursuit of truth. And as soon as Matzke and Muhlestein were shown the door, they were denied that First Amendment right.
Brunell said, “I don’t want to keep students from talking to the reporters.” However, by not granting reporters access to students, that is precisely what his interpretation of the policy does.
Solicitation means that someone is trying to convince someone else to buy something. All reporters do is offer people the opportunity to speak. That is reporting, not soliciting, and it is how journalists do their jobs.
To characterize the pursuit of news as “solicitation” is ludicrous, and in the scope of civil liberties, it’s dangerous.
The dorms on campus are public and the buildings are unlocked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The only way UM could legally ban press from walking the hallways and seeking comment from students would be to ban all non-residents.
That is not happening anytime soon.
The Kaimin serves as the voice of this university and in turn uses that tool to give voice to students who otherwise may not have one. That approximately 80 students remain housed in study lounges and TV rooms — without Internet access — as a result of failed admissions and housing policies is an outrage.
It is in the best interest of the campus population for the Kaimin to continue to press Residence Life and the administration for answers about what they will do to provide permanent housing for those students.
But to enable the paper to do that, reporters need access. It’s not up to Bryan Gardner or Ron Brunell to grant that access. It has already been given to journalists by the First Amendment. Gardner, Brunell, and others in powerful positions must respect that access.
Bill Oram, editor
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Comments
What a joke. Ron Brunell’s obsessive, clinically insane paranoia about Kaimin reporters is another black mark on the University’s reputation, not to mention the First Amendment.
If you want to play a fun game, try striking up a casual conversation with an RA or Residence Life employee. Ask them how their job is going, and how the dorm life is holding up this year. After a few minutes, tell them you’re a Kaimin reporter. They’ll either immediately call 911 and report a terrorist infiltration and ask for National Guard support, or their head will simply explode. Best case scenario, they’ll immediately call Ron Brunell (on speed dial) and tattle tale on you.
Because nothing so effects the well being of students in dorms like ... Kaimin reporters.
Go suck an egg, Brunell. This stonewalling bullshit is amateur hour.
Posted by fredstapleton on 09/15/2008 at 6:45 pm
While not a Montana student, and thus not fully aware of the people and issues involved, I think we can all agree that the actions of Residence Life in this instance are ludicrous. If the residents didn’t want to speak to the reporters, they were perfectly capable of saying that themselves. RL wasn’t protecting students, it was clearly attempting to protect itself. Lest anyone think that isn’t a big deal, remember that if the First Amendment isn’t in force somewhere, it isn’t in force anywhere. Kudos to Mr. Oram and the Kaimin for keeping on top of this story.
Finally, a piece of advice for Mr. Brunell: The cover-up is usually worse than the crime.
Posted by blazsey on 09/19/2008 at 1:26 am
