Kristen Griffith

Kristen Griffith

By Kristen Griffith (Whetstone Staff Writer)

When I first came to Wesley College, I remember my face lighting up when I found out how much independence Wesley’s school newspaper had. I was no longer forced to only make my school look good as I had to when I was in high school.

Here at Wesley, I can write what is happening on campus and what students feel and want without fear of anyone interfering because The Whetstone had a history of not being afraid to print the truth.

And then I heard all that could be taken away.

Christine Gibson, chief financial officer, created a new policy that eliminates student fees. This affects most organizations on campus, if not all of them, but it also hits at the heart of The Whetstone and its mission as an independent student newspaper.

When The Whetstone, the Student Government Association and Student Activities had money directed to us from students’ fees, the administration was not allowed to touch it, or at least could not manipulate our coverage of the news by holding the money back.

If the administration has control over our budget – which it will if fees are put into tuition and controlled by the CFO – it has control over what we print. If they wanted to, they could cut our ability to print entirely. That is censorship.

I should not have to worry about offending administration before I write a story that I think is in the best interest of the students. The independence of The Whetstone is what makes this student newspaper effective, in print and online.

When I walk in The Whetstone office I am surrounded by issues from the past hanging on the wall. Front page headlines like “Football Volunteer Coach Arrested for Mailing Himself Marijuana,” “Big Drug Bust at Malmberg Worries Students,” and “Assistant Basketball Coach Arrested on Charges of Sexual Misconduct,” always catch my eye. It reminds me how powerful and important the paper is. Students, faculty and staff need to be informed about what goes on around them.

But how informed can they be when their main source of reliable information is restrained from reporting the news?

Controversy is not my only interest in journalism, but it’s what excites me the most.

This is my first year as editor-in-chief and I’ve already tackled some significant stories: “Student Injured from Gunshot Wounds Halloween Night,” “Gunshots Fired Twice as Students Begin School Year,” “History Program Turned Upside Down,” and my favorite, “History Program Staples Rejection Letter to Whetstone Copies.”

I am sure the administration did not like some of these stories, and would have tried to stop me from publishing them if it had the power – especially if Open House was around the corner.

I do not want my right of free speech stripped from me. I do not want to be censored.

I want there to be an independent voice for the students, no matter who is editor.

I love to walk around the College Center and see students reading The Whetstone, and I do not want to see that go away.

I want the Whetstone to keep its independence and I will keep fighting until I am assured that it will.