The following is reprinted from the Whitman College Pioneer,
date unknown.
Two major points of business came before Student Congress this week. Robert Searfoss gave a progress report on the radio station and Doug Eglington presented his recommendations for amendments to the bylaws of the ASWC constitution.
Searfoss was able to present Student Congress with concrete results of the Radio Committee's efforts. Displayed was the $100 antenna. Searfoss said that construction on the antenna tower will begin this week. Programming will be underway at least by Interim if not later this semester. The campus station has yest to receive testing permits and a final license.
Bylaw reform proved a more contentious issue than expected. Proposed because "the ASWC...has frequently been hampered by a lack of coordination between it's elective bodies, it's committees, it's publications and it's membership," the proposal focused on making the various branches of ASWC accountable to Student Congress. This would include all student committee and student publications. Opposition to the specific amendment relating to the Pioneer came from those of the Pioneer Staff present.
Controversial By-Law
The amendment would make the editorship of the paper subject to ratification by Student Congress. Pat McChesney, the present editor, said the paper should have control over its own internal affairs, and that he felt the Pioneer as a viable independent voice in student affairs was threatened. Student Congress Representative Doug Ethington felt that there was a danger of the Pioneer becoming a "political football." Member of Student Congress expressed the view that student congress control would insure the paper's being "representative of student opinion."
Interpreting what could turn into a lengthy debate, Howard Todd, ASWC president, turned attention to the rest of the proposed changes. Consideration of the matter was postponed until next week's meeting.
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