Web exclusive: Status of MSU’s School of Journalism director still uncertain

I thought this was MSU’s STUDENT newspaper. What are students saying about this?

Whitten should be allowed to comment and explain her decision. I know that this article says that she referred all comments to Denbow, but this probably was after the students started making offensive questions. This is more evident since most reporters in The SN come for the J-School and probably they feel offended by Whitten’s decision.

But, from a non journalism major, I think they should allow Whitten to comment freely, without questions, about her early decision.

so… the students are inappropriate for demanding answers???

That’s really all we want – Answers. To know why this decision was made and to know what direction Whitten wants to take for the school. We have a right to know that, and Whitten is showing blatant disrespect for not only Jane Briggs-Bunting, but also the faculty and the students by her silence. It’s incredibly disheartening.

Whitten has had plenty of opportunities – she still does!

Student:
Multiple attempts have been made to contact Dean Whitten’s office to ask for clarification of her desire to take the J-School into a “new direction.” These phone calls were made Thursday morning before the “Save MSUJRN” site launched and before the Facebook group was started. Even then, all questions were referred back to University Relations.

Why should a leader be able to comment on decisions without question?

I think we all know who “student” voted for in the 2004 election…

Kerry, obviously.

I find this entire article hilarious. To me it just sounds like The State News is protecting its own. How many times have other faculty and or directors been demoted or let go? Does The State News ever report on them? Unless it involves a controversy it is usually not reported. To me this simply sounds like a change in leadership that a new dean has a right to do. Obviously many individuals and students are upset about Whitten’s choice.

- Jane successfully led the J-School through a reaccreditation process.

- Jane successfully led changes to core J-School courses to ensure they were teaching the latest skills in multimedia journalism.

- Jane has successfully served as a beloved mentor and leader to both her students and faculty. The thousands at CAS’s spring commencement saw that with the rousing ovation Jane received from the journalism students.

…. and on and on and on.

The Save MSU Journalism campaign filed Freedom of Information Act paperwork on Monday to obtain the performance reviews of both Jane Briggs-Bunting and Pamela Whitten. Once we receive these records we will publish them to our site. While we do not know exactly what these records will show – we do expect that they will give a good indication of how university leadership gauged the performance and results of Briggs-Bunting.

As a longtime alumnus (full disclosure: not Journalism) and steady contributor to MSU, I am dismayed by the lack of clarity surrounding this situation. I recognize there are two sides to any story, and I am sure we are not getting a full explanation from either side. Alumni and students, particularly those from the School of Journalism deserve this. Without trying to take sides, I have the following comments and questions:
1.

I just have one comment…DUH. Why on earth would journalists report on things that happen all the time? OF COURSE TSN is resporting on this BECAUSE it’s a contraversy.

But…agreed. No crying “poor JBB.” She has already hired a lawyer, of course Whitten is going to be hush-hush…because she’s not stupid.

I don’t like this and I agree yes we are JRN students we should ask questions, but I understand why Whitten is doing this. Like I said, she’s not stupid and doesn’t want a lawsuit slapped on her.

I completely agree with Aaron on why it’s important for us to continue to ask questions. As a journalism junior, the hold that has been put on our curriculum directly affects me. This is about our education and our future careers as journalists. While it is probably in Whitten’s best interest not to comment right now, some statement supporting her decision should be given. I think it’s very questionable that she would make such a huge decision without informing the staff and students in the journalism department.

Well, it’s good to have out in the open yet another lie told to us by the academic establishment: the illusion that you’re somehow politically insulated by tenure. You’ll only get tenure if you play ball with the hard-liners who want you instructing students to think in a very specific way (double-think). If you snuck your way into tenure then reveal your real valiant purposes, you’ll be rendered incapable of doing your job because of actions of your fascist colleagues. God Bless America.

THE ONLY THING THAT I KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT: The Status of MSU’s School of Journalism director, is still uncertain. Now that is something to be certain about! “LIGHTBULB” idea…

I am perplexed at the decisions of both Terry Denbow and Pamela Whitten to not comment on the story. I am even more perplexed at the reporter’s decision not to include comments by students. After all, the education is about the students, regardless of who is leading it! Because I do not know the reasons for Jane Briggs-Bunting’s request for removal of journalism dean, I see it as more of a “personal” issue, not a “personnel” issue.

As a J-School alum about to return to the graduate program, I am a bit concerned.
I have been away in the military for a number of years so I am not sure of the politics involved here, but I did graduate under Briggs-Bunting’s watch the first time, and found myself well-prepared for the journalism world.
I hope this does not become a tedious, drawn-out fight, as that will directly affect the students and the J-School program as a whole, especially the new curriculum.
Please resolve this issue as soon as possible so everything can return to normal and the sudents can continue to learn without distraction.

I hope Zane McMillin is not a student of MSU’s Journalism school. Such a biased article. If Zane is then I’d recommend we fire the head of the MSU journalism school. Oh wait…

How is Zane being biased? The university REFUSES to comment when they’ve had PLENTY chances. It’s their own fault they aren’t telling their side.

and p.s. you are not funny.

This article doesn’t have the answer. Boring. Ioo bad people here don’t know how to laugh, ha.;(

No, at least I hope not. It is better to be a team, helping others, being supportive, working together… rather than an “Audience of One”…good song by the way.

Don’t want to mispell, to many good writers here, journalists..cool.

By Audience of One. Good Song. Maybe it could be the theme song for this article?