Undocupoets: End Contest Discrimination!

Poets Launch Petition to End Citizenship & Residency Requirements in Contests

Roque Dalton García

"Too often, the submission guidelines read “Proof of US Citizenship” or “Legal Residents Only.” This small, but powerful, statement serves to exclude 11.7 million undocumented people (according to the Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends Project in 2013) from participating in a multitude of poetry opportunities—from first book contests to applying for major grants."

I work with amazing poets who happen to be migrant farmworker youth and I'm proud to have signed this petition. Chances are that some of the youth are undocumented. I don't ask. If they want me to know, they'll tell me either in person or or in their writing.

They are part of the reason I write to share our stories, our lives. My hope is that they will embrace their natural storytelling skills and become writers or at least be more confident in their ability. I know it's only a matter of time until one of them, one of them takes the brave step to submit work for publication.

That's why I signed the petition.

According to the organizers, some journals say they must support citizenship/residency requirements because they receive federal funds. Yes, that's true. However, having worked at nonprofits, I can tell you there are times when federal residency requirements are not and cannot be collected (street outreach, public lectures, workshops/panels, etc.). Even if it were possible to collect the information, nonprofits don't have the resources to investigate and confirm residency or citizenship claims.

Since it's unlikely that states and the federal government will eliminate such residency regulations in funding, there's a way around it -- DON'T USE STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THESE CONTESTS.

I get it, offering a prize like publication of book is a really big deal and it can cost thousands of dollars. If an organization relies on one funding source for such an endeavor and that one source is the state or federal government, it's only a matter of time before said funding is restricted or eliminated. Clearly, the organization has bigger problems than keeping undocupoets from submitting work.

Aside from first book contests, some journals offer a cash prize. While some cash prizes are in the thousands, usually a contest prize is less than $500. Some offer no prize at all other than publication of the work and maybe a free copy (or discounted copy) of the journal. What's the logic in excluding undocupoets from these contests?

I know things are rough for presses and journals, but with the recent efforts of #WeNeedDiverseBooks and #DontSelfReject, excluding voices from publication based on residency is about as crazy as limiting them based on education (don't get me started on that). 

Because of these and similar efforts, presses and journals now feel the urgency for diversity in publication (whether they act on it is a different story). But maybe these publishers simply want the diversity of a community college course catalog where an older white guy sits at a table with a Black girl who has her book open while an obviously young Gay Latino on the other side of her smiles. An Asian man at the same table laughs at a joke and white girl sits in a wheelchair holding a tablet as they all study at one of the many outdoor study areas. It's fun, it's pretty, and most of all it's not complicated. 

Perhaps some publishers use this residency regulation to screen out possible "complicated" diversity that comes with undocumented writers, trans writers, disabled writers, or other writers with "intense"  or "messy" (meaning possibly offensive) issues. Avoiding complicated diversity means silencing complicated voices, negating complicated stories and histories, and ultimately shunning complicated readers. That might be alright with them but it's not alright with me.

One day soon a young farmworker from the Midwest, perhaps undocumented, who has shared her story only with a select few, will feel the support and encouragement of her mentors and friends. And with a prayer on her breath, she will be bravely submit her words to a contest for publication. 

Not only does she deserve the chance to win, she deserves an opportunity to be heard.

Who's that Gay Fellow?

That would be me. I'm a Lambda Literary Foundation Fellow!

Last month, I applied for the Lambda Literary Foundation's Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices. I'd heard about and was encouraged to apply for the week-long residency program when I attended the AWP conference in Chicago.

We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance into the 2012 workshop ... More applications this year than in any previous year made the selection process extremely competitive. Congratulations on taking your place among an outstanding field of applicants! 


The emailed message continued, "This year also brought us a challenging economic climate, and we have faced difficult decisions in allocating the available scholarship funds."

I'm so happy that they awarded me a partial scholarship to help cover some of the expenses including tuition. However, I'm responsible for the remaining $650 for room and board. I'm also responsible for travel to the retreat which will take place at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Calif.

Clearly, papa's gotta get some chedda, yo.

In order to help meet expenses, LLF fellows are authorized as fundraisers and may use the foundation's Donor Pages to accept tax-deductible donations.

A few years ago I would have never thought something like this could happen for me. Yet because you believed in me, I believed in myself. I believed I could be a writer. It's all I ever wanted to be.

You may not be in a position to help. I understand that -- really, I do. And I know this is  a strange way to ask for help, but I can't ask for help without saying 'thank you' for what you've already done. So, thank you for a lifetime of encouragement and support.

My Donor Page

To inquire about travel expenses (not included in the Donor Page account),contact me on Facebook or Twitter.

¡Viva la Evolución!

I created The Latino Reporter blog in 2004 to help me focus on journalism.  When I began immersing myself into the world of nut graphs, column inches, and inverted pyramids, this blog helped me understand journalism's particular style of writing. I learned many lessons but the most important: listen to my writer's voice.

While exploring journalism as a student, I uncovered a scandal that toppled my college president. I earned several national and state awards including the First Amendment award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

I could (and just might) write a book on how journalism changed my life and my campus. 

In the last few years as I shifted my brand from The Latino Reporter to TrustMiguel, my writing skills expanded (as has my waistline). It took time but I'm as comfortable writing poetry and fiction as I am a writing a news story or an editorial -- and I'm just as proud. 

Since I'm still learning about this new non-journalism world, it only seems right to resurrect this blog to help me process once again. Like an old college buddy, it only took moments to reconnect but it's clear that we've both changed. The challenge is not to stay mired in the past but to build on it.

The Latino Reporter is now The Latino Writer, part of the TrustMiguel brand. I'll tell you more about that later ...

Student Journos: Win All Expense-Paid Trip to DC and the NFP Award Dinner

 Journalism Matters Essay Contest

The National Press Foundation is offering young journalists the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to its Annual Awards Dinner February 16, 2010. Move fast, the deadline to enter is February 8.

How to win?

Tell us why journalism matters, in 100 words or less. You can focus on any issue or platform you like. The winning entry will be the one that best captures the importance of journalism in today's society. Entries must be submitted through the form below. The author of the winning essay will receive round-trip air-fare and one night hotel stay in Washington to attend the National Press Foundation’s 27th Annual Awards Dinner on February 16, 2010. One of the largest media dinners in Washington, the National Press Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner brings together more than 1,000 journalists, media professionals, policy makers and corporate executives. The contest winner will be seated at the head table, receive recognition at the dinner, and the winning entry will be read during the evening’s program.

Entry into the Journalism Matters Essay Contest is open to U.S. residents age 18-40. Submission must be received no later than February 7, 2010. If you have questions, please contact ana@nationalpress.org. No calls, please. Employees and current or former board members of NPF or their families may not participate. NPF is a 501-c-3. Visit NationalPress.org

TIME OUT: My Electability

Here is an e-mail I sent to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' GLBT Caucus, of which I'm a member:

I'm running for the Student Representative position on NAHJ' Board of Directors. I'd appreciate your support in helping me get the number of petition signatures via e-mail needed (25) to stand as a candidate.

For those who don't know me, I'm a non-traditional student living in Kansas. I attend Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. and Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan. NAHJ selected me as a participant in both the Student Campus and Latino Reporter projects in the past as well as awarded me a Ruben Salazar Scholarship. The Society of Professional Journalists awarded me it's 2006 First Amendment Award for my investigation that uncovered allegations of sexual harassment against my college president and the open records battle that followed. I've also won several first place writing awards in state competitions where I also earned the Journalist of the Year award. I've participated in the Associated Press' Diverse Visions/Diverse Voices program, the National Press Foundation's Introduction to Washington program, and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association student projects. Of course, I am also a member of the NAHJ GLBT Caucus.

If you feel that as a member in good standing you can support my efforts, please use the following template to send your e-mail to ravila@nahj.org by June 18.

I (STATE YOUR NAME), of (COMPANY THEY WORK FOR OR OTHER FORM OF IDENTIFYING EMPLOYMENT) support the candidacy of _________________ for (position) ____________________ in the 2008 election of the NAHJ Board of Directors. This statement counts as my virtual signature and I have included my full contact information below.

Thanks for this opportunity to serve an organization that has served me,

miguel

If I secure enough e-signatures to be on the ballot, I'll layout my platform points because I definitely have ideas on the direction NAHJ needs to head and how students can help the organization get there.

COMMENTARY: Regret the Error

Walking on the Ledge:

Errors that Influence
Was Learning Management System Vote Tainted by Student Newspaper?

Every campus newspaper staff wants to influence campus – but not through errors.

An article in the April 24 issue of The Campus Ledger reported Johnson County Community College (JCCC) will abandon its current Management Learning System (LMS) powered by Blackboard in favor of one powered by ANGEL Learning. The article also reported the LMS will be in place by fall 2008.

The problem? The faculty was in the midst of conducting a vote on whether to adopt ANGEL. A day after the story ran, a posting on the college's electronic mail server, Infolist, voiced faculty concerns.

“Contrary to the Campus Ledger article, the college's move to ANGEL Learning is not a forgone conclusion,” the post read. “We're in the middle of the faculty vote to support or not support the move to ANGEL Learning. Faculty votes count and are crucial as no decision will be made until the voting time period concludes on Monday, April 28, 2008 at midnight.”

The posting said if the vote is affirmative, the faculty’s recommendation moves to the Academic Technology Advisory Council, the Executive Council, the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee and then to the entire Board of Trustees. A negative vote from faculty could stop the process, as could a negative finding by any of the committees along the way.

“If approved by all parties, the timeline for the implementation of a new LMS still needs to be developed,” the posting continued. “Any assumption that faculty and students will be using a different LMS for fall 2008 is premature. Implementation will require more time than exists between the board vote and the start of fall classes.”

Read the faculty post here.

A few faculty members asked how the paper could publish these errors and who, if anyone, checks facts. I explained the editing process I helped establish during my tenure at The Ledger. A minimum of three editors check the story and the staff reviews the proofs, or “minis,” for errors on production night. Yet, I agreed the article’s factual errors also could serve as errors that influence.

“Maybe this calls for something more than running a correction in the next issue, perhaps a staff ed?” I wrote in an April 29 e-mail to the Ledger's adviser, editor in chief, and managing editor. “I know the situation sucks because everyone loves to point out when The Ledger makes a mistake. But if it's not addressed then the integrity of the paper suffers especially on the heels of some prestigious awards this year.”

The next day, six days after publishing the article, The Ledger posted a correction and apology on Infolist.

“It has come to the attention of The Campus Ledger that the April 24 article about the Blackboard Learning System contained incorrect information,” the post read. “It was not our intention to sway the vote for a new learning management system ... Our staff will take this experience to heart. We plan to continue providing the quality, accurate news that you have come to expect from our award-winning newspaper.”

Read The Ledger post here.

Seeing this as a teachable moment, I asked the Ledger's adviser, editor in chief, managing editor and the reporter how the situation unfolded.

Linda Friedel, managing editor, acknowledged ethics breach.

“We definitely consider it a learning moment,” Friedel said. “It is the worst mistake anyone has made on the Ledger this year.”

She said a meeting took place yet they could not identify the origin of the mistake.

“Either the reporter didn't make the question clear, the source spoke out of line, the source didn't communicate it was a done deal and the reporter thought it was a done deal,” she said.

Friedel said the most they could do was acknowledge the mistake and use it as an example of how not tor report.

Alexia Lang, editor in chief, did not respond to my question.

Anne Christiansen-Bullers, adviser, said she would meet with the reporter and Lang to discover how the errors happened.

The reporter, Bartholomew Klick, said a few days after The Ledger's apology posted, Lang abruptly fired him. He said she cited the errors along with an e-mail campaign he spearheaded against The Ledger for an unrelated story as reasons for his termination.

Yet, Klick contends he accurately reported the story. He said during the editing process, editors cut crucial information and left gaps they later filled with assumptions and other misinformation.

Klick provided his unedited copy showing the differences. His original lead reads:
“As quickly as autumn of this year, the college may have a new program for managing its online course material.”

The published version reads:
“Beginning this fall, the college will have a new program for managing its online course material.”

Read The Ledger article here.
Read Klick's original version here.

Klick said the only thing he regretted about the story was that he did not record and clearly document his interviews. Both he and Friedel agreed organized documentation would have identified errors and allowed corrections before publication.

Further complicating the situation is that everyone involved is an accomplished journalist. Klick and another staffer recently were awarded the college’s Robert J. Helmer award for excellence in journalism. Alexia Lang was named first runner up for the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Journalist of the Year award in the two-year division. Friedel is a contributing columnist to The Kansas City Star’s Neighborhood News and Christian-Bullers has earned an advising award from the Collage Media Advisers association.

The faculty voted to endorse ANGEL Learning as it’s LMS. The recommendation now moves along the path to approval. Yet the question remains: did the reporting errors influence the vote?

Visit Regret the Error to read about media mistakes

INFOLIST: Faculty Awards Awards

From the college's electronic mail server, Infolist:

HAAS, SOPCICH RECEIVE FACULTY'S ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
Julie Haas, executive director, Marketing and Communication, and Dr. Joe Sopcich, vice president of Institutional Advancement and Government Affairs, were both selected this year by the Faculty Association at their general membership meeting to receive administrative leadership awards. Both Joe and Julie provided outstanding leadership and courage in periods of transition for the college and continue to do so. Julie, among other things, has been a long-time advocate for the interests of adjunct faculty, and Joe has championed greater relations between the foundation and faculty and the implementation of a grants office. The award is intended for those in administrative positions who exhibit leadership and vision for the college and responsiveness to faculty interests at levels above their peers. The award has been offered sporadically over the past ten years or so. The only other recipients are Dr. Marilyn Rhinehart and Dr. Larry Tyree. The faculty felt it appropriate to make two awards this year given the character exhibited by both Joe and Julie through the college's recent tumult.

NEWS: Restored Award

Home, Sweet Home

The wandering award given to the Reading Department returned to the Academic Achievement Center today.

Twelve years ago, the Student Senate gave the award to the department for it's free book exchange program that allowed students to take a book and leave a book (read about it here).

The award could resurrect the book exchange program and include used textbooks.

Roz Bethke, professor of reading for the Academic Achievement Center, offered a cash reward for the award which will be donated to Project Finish, the college's ABE/GED/ESL program.

AWARDS: All-State, Again

From the college's electronic mail server, Infolist:

THE CAMPUS LEDGER WINS AWARD
The Campus Ledger was named the best student newspaper in its division at a state journalism conference April 6-7 in Wichita. The student newspaper of Johnson County Community College was given the All-Kansas award by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press for the second year in a row. To receive the award, the paper must score outstanding marks in all categories judged, including writing, visuals and design, based on three issues from the 2007-08 academic year. The editor of The Campus Ledger, Alexia Stout-Lang, was named first runner-up in the Journalist of the Year contest and received $100 from the Kansas Press Association.

Members of The Campus Ledger also received 24 individual awards, including six first-place certificates. Nathan Lang, former online editor, won first place in headline writing and news photography, and sports editor Stephen Montemayor won first place in sports-column writing and second place in sports features. Artist Juniper Tanpuz took first in illustration and both second and honorable mention in cartoons. The adviser is Anne Christiansen-Bullers. Individual awards included:

First place – Nathan Lang, headline writing and news photography; Justin Millard, sports feature; Stephen Montemayor, sports-column writing; Miguel Morales [emphasis added], column writing; Juniper Tangpuz, illustration.

Second Place – Katherine Kramer, interior-page design; Stephen Montemayor, sports feature; Miguel Morales, column writing and news writing; Juniper Tanpuz, cartoons.

Third Place – Matt Galloway, feature writing.

Honorable Mention – Campus Ledger Staff, news writing; the team of Jennifer Hallock, Alexia Stout-Lang, Linda Friedel, Miguel Morales and Stephen Montemayor, special section; Matt Galloway, sports feature and news writing; Katherine Kramer, interior-page design; Justin Millard, sports news; Stephen Montemayor, sports feature; the team of Miguel Morales and Kevin Mimms, news writing; Miguel Morales, headline writing; Alexia Stout-Lang, column writing and review writing; Juniper Tangpuz, cartoons.

NEWS: Adored Award

Lost and Found

Reading program researches missing award's history

by Miguel M. Morales

Academic Achievement Center staff have been working to learn how an award presented to them by the Student Senate ended up at the Salvation Army. (See original posting here.)

Roz Bethke, professor of reading for the Academic Achievement Center, said she's been talking to staff and has come up with a partial explanation.

Using the dates noted on the award, staffers discovered that in the late 1990s the AAC had set up a free reading shelf for students. The intent was to allow students to take a book and leave a book.

"It was set up on a donation system," Bethke said.

The Student Senate took notice of the effort and presented the Reading program with an award.

Bethke said the AAC proudly displayed the plaque on the shelf with the books.

The shelf stood near the Student Desk, which was located on the second floor of the Commons building. When the Student Center opened in 2000, the Student Desk subsequently relocated to the first floor of the new building.

"Eventually the book cases, the books, and the plaque disappeared. Maybe the shelves just ran out of books--we don't know."

Yet, the mystery of how the award ended up at the Salvation Army thrift store remains.

Nevertheless, Bethke said the staff looks forward to the return of the award where they will -- once again -- display it proudly.

WTF: Abhorred Award

Last week, I purchased this award from the Salvation Army in Olathe, Kan. for $1.99 (plus tax).

Winning an award is great but being given an unsolicited award for a job well-done is priceless -- especially when it comes from students. I hope it was some sort of mistake but I can't imagine how this ended up in a thrift store.

What is wrong with this place?? I can't even ... why would ... I mean ... what the hell?

I don't even know if I want to give it back.

*update*

OK so I e-mailed someone from the the Reading department about the award. She contacted me and said the award could have ended up at the thrift store after a former facilitator for the Academic Achievement Center, which houses Reading dept, passed away. It could have also been some disorganized or disgruntled former employee. Who knows?

She also said a professor emeritus is completing a Senior Scholar project which includes documenting the history of the department.

I hope the tale of the abandoned award will be included as well as some recommendations (for the entire campus) on how to keep track of awards so this doesn't happen again. I'd be awfully upset if I walked into Goodwill to find The Ledger's All-Kansas award in a pile of rusted silverware.

I'll hand over the goods to her sometime this week.

TIME OUT: Finally Photogs!

More from NAHJ:

THE WHITE HOUSE NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION'S 2008 STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR CONTEST

Applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2008.
The WHNPA Student Contest Committee announces a new contest open to students from across the country to compete for the honor of WHNPA Student Photographer of the Year.

• Entrants are not required to be WHNPA members but membership is encouraged.
• Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program are eligible.
• Entrants must send a statement of enrollment from their advisor or a university official and a check or money order for $25.00 made out to “The White House News Photographers Association” to:

WHNPA - Student Contest
7119 Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC, 20044

All questions about the competition can be directed to studentcontest@whnpa.org

Committee suggestion: A well-rounded portfolio should include a selection of strong single images and at least one photo story of a compelling news topic.

For complete rules click here.

NEWS: You really like me!

Ledger earns two more honors
Kudos continue for staff that covered campus controversies

The Campus Ledger, the student newspaper of Johnson County Community College, earned two prestigious honors from two separate journalism organizations for its 2006-07 editions.

Pacemaker Finalist designation from the Associated Collegiate Press. This award, known as the Pulitzer Prize of student media, goes to the top college newspapers in the country for overall quality. The Ledger competes against 14 other community college newspapers for the award presented at the ACP's National Convention Oct. 24-29 in Washington, D.C.

Gold Medalist rating from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The medal rating reflects the judge’s overall score of 945 of 1,000 points, including an All-Columbian, or “best of best” rating, in The Ledger’s reporting and coverage of campus events including the investigation into multiple allegations of unlawful harassment and the search for a new president. The Gold Medalist rating is the result of an extensive evaluation of the entire year’s publications.

The Ledger also earned the All-Kansas award, the top award for college media, from the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press last spring. Over the summer the paper won Best in Show from ACP for overall coverage and design.

AWARD: All-Kansas

The Campus Ledger earned its place as the best student newspaper in its division at a state journalism conference April 16-17 in Wichita, Kan.

During the culmination of the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press (KACP) conference and award ceremony, KACP announced the student newspaper of Johnson County Community College earned its All-Kansas award. To receive the award, the paper must score outstanding marks in all categories judged, including writing, visuals and design.

Members of The Ledger staff also earned 26 individual awards, including seven first-place certificates.

KACP named Miguel M. Morales, news editor, first runner-up for Journalist of the Year for his efforts in breaking and following the allegations of sexual harassment agains former college president Charles Carlsen. Morales also collected seven individual awards. KACP previously named Morales Journalist of the Year in 2005.

Individual awards included:

First Place
Ryan Arthur - news photography
David Daneman - Cartoons
Miguel Morales - news writing, column writing (tie)
Juniper Tangpuz - illustrationsAaron Whitebread - column writing (tie), sports features

Second Place
Stephen Montemayor - sports news writing
Morales - news writing, series writing, headline writing
Matthew Walsh - front-page design

Third Place
Ledger staff - editorial writing
Justin Millard - sports column writing
Kevin Mimms and Walsh - infographics
Whitebread - review writing

Honorable Mention
Millard - sports news writing
Montemayor - sports features, sports column writing
Morales - editorial writing, review writing
Tangpuz - cartoons
Weston White - sports photography (3 awards)
Whitebread - sports column writing

Sunshine Week: Sunflower Power!

The Student Press Law Center is writing a series of articles to celebrate Sunshine Week. The first article features my struggle reporting for The Campus Ledger at JCCC:

SUNSHINE WEEK: Student journalist fights for access at community college

Anonymous tip leads to big story, rejected open records requests

By Jared Taylor, SPLC staff writer
© 2007 Student Press Law Center

March 13, 2007

A citizen's right to know and journalists' rights to report are threatened every day, say the organizers of Sunshine Week, who planned the weeklong program to highlight freedom of information issues and emphasize the importance of open government. The Student Press Law Center is celebrating Sunshine Week with a series of reports on how student journalists can encourage open government and use open records to expand their journalistic horizons and let the sunshine in.

Student journalist Miguel Morales has reported stories that have rocked his community college’s foundations.

But after unearthing controversies by using open records requests and building trust with key whistleblowers, Morales said reporting on campus issues has only become tougher.

For the 39-year-old Morales, journalism was not his first pursuit in life. After spending about 10 years as a HIV outreach worker, Morales enrolled part-time at Johnson County Community College in Kansas in 2001 and set his sights on a career in journalism.

“Writing was the one thing I could always do,” he said.

In March 2005, Morales received an anonymous e-mail from someone who told him to examine attachments to the agenda of a recent board of trustees meeting. He did, but found nothing that seemed out of the ordinary.

Morales then received a tip and documentation from his anonymous source that documented that Charles Carlsen, the college’s president, had allegedly sexually harassed college administrator Teresa Lee since 2003. Lee alleged that Carlsen had touched her breast with his forearm and performed other acts that made her feel uncomfortable.

College officials had not responded to Lee’s complaints against Carlsen, the popular leader of a campus with a performing arts center that bears his name. Lee agreed to speak on the record for a story, understanding it could lead to her losing her job, Morales said.

While none of Lee’s coworkers could confirm her claims, Morales confronted Carlsen about the accusations. During an interview, he said that the president’s face said it all.

“He just turned red,” Morales said of Carlsen’s reaction when asked about the harassment allegations. Carlsen denied everything Lee alleged in the complaint.

Following the meeting with Carlsen, Mark Ferguson, the college’s attorney, confronted Morales about investigation, saying Lee’s accusations were not credible. “I felt he was intimidating me into not writing this story,” Morales said.

Despite the perceived threats, Morales continued to investigate and found another potential instance of unaddressed sexual harassment, which involved student employee Andrea Evans and her campus services department supervisors. After Evans shared documents she kept that detailed the harassment charges, Morales’ harassment story broadened.

After reporting for more than a year, The Campus Ledger published the results of Morales’ investigation on April 14, 2006. In two stories, he detailed the harassment claims involving the president and the campus services employees.

Less than a week later, Carlsen resigned from his post after 25 years as president. The college board of trustees launched an independent investigation into the matter. The campus services employees in the other alleged harassment case left the college.

“I have had two heart attacks, an angioplasty, and quintuple bypass surgery. It is apparent to me from the stress of the last two weeks that immediate retirement is the appropriate step to take,” Carlsen wrote in his resignation letter, dated Apr. 20, 2006.

After the stories were published, The Campus Ledger received another lead — this time from one of the former campus services managers. The former manager alleged that the college was improperly paying overtime to campus employees.

Along with reporter Kevin Mimms, the student journalists began looking into the matter, but because of the controversy surrounding Carlsen’s departure, administrators would tell little to Campus Ledger reporters, hesitant of further negative publicity, Morales said.

“It’s my story that’s not getting them the quotes that they need,” Morales said.

The two turned to using open records requests to get the information they needed — but found further road blocks.

“Denied left and right”

College officials declined open records requests for budget information that would show potential overtime violations because their letters were “poorly worded” and even criticized the reporters for using the Student Press Law Center’s state open records request letter generator, rather than authoring the open records letters themselves, Morales said.

“A request is a request whether it’s [from] a letter generator or if it’s written in crayon,” Morales said in an e-mail.

Morales recalled one instance where an administrator denied an open records request because “you’re going to write a story about it.”

“It got to the point last spring where they weren’t responding at all,” Morales said.

With an interim president still to be named and as the independent investigation into Lee’s alleged sexual harassment was scheduled to end in the June 2006, Morales and his staff asked the college’s publication board for permission to publish throughout the summer. The publication board approved the request, but it was soon overruled by the college board of trustees, which Morales said, “didn’t want to spend any more money” for a summer paper.

But Morales and Mimms would not let that stop them from chasing the story.

“We scraped up our money, found a printer and got donations from employees and students at the college, and published our own paper,” Morales said.

By July 2006, Morales and Mimms had reported in The Lexicon — the alternative paper they created — on the search for a new president and the results of the independent investigation confirming Carlsen’s harassment, which cost the college more than half a million dollars.

Today, Morales says many open records requests continue to be refused by administrators without clear reasoning, but he said the newspaper is “just collecting all our rejections” hoping to “integrate them into a story.”

“I think they just don't know what information citizens can request nor do they know what they can release,” Morales said. “So our information requests get denied as a precaution.”

Johnson County Community College spokeswoman Julie Haas said administrators understand which records are public under state law. She said the college has responded to every records request from Campus Ledger reporters.

“We responded to everything that I know of,” Haas said. “I want to know what it was that [Morales] perceives that we didn’t fulfill.”

While he has received some of the budget information requested, Morales said the data has been difficult to interpret.

“We asked for budget numbers. They’re not giving it to us electronically, they’re giving us [printed] spreadsheets,” Morales said. “It’s hard for us to manipulate the data.”

Morales would not clarify which documents or the sources of the data he is requesting for his ongoing investigation into alleged overtime violations, saying only that the college’s budget and documents related to it are a “treasure trove” of information.

“It didn’t really hit me”

Morales and The Campus Ledger staff’s efforts did not go unrecognized. At its convention held in August 2006, the Society of Professional Journalists awarded Morales and Campus Ledger staff with the First Amendment Award given to individuals and groups for efforts to preserve and strengthen the First Amendment for their harassment story.

Morales said when he found out about the honor, he did not understand the magnitude of the award. He said he was unsure if he should even make the drive to Chicago to accept the award, but his instructors told him that it was “a big deal and [he] should really go.”

Even though college administrators are now more hesitant when a Ledger reporter makes an inquiry, Morales said he “wouldn’t do anything different” in his reporting of the harassment story. He said it is best to get to know the people in campus offices and use formal open records requests as a last resort.

“Be nice — know where document is,” Morales said. “Don't just slap the letter down on [the administrator’s] desk.”

Morales said he plans on graduating from Johnson County Community College at the end of the summer, and wants to complete his degree at the University of Kansas. Eventually, he said he would like to return to Johnson County Community College to teach journalism.

For Morales, whose name means “morals” in Spanish, he said he believes he “finally found my calling” in journalism.

“I let my ethics and integrity guide me,” he said.

AWARD: Go for the GOLD!

The Ledger Named Gold Medalist

The Campus Ledger, the student newspaper of Johnson County Community College, received a Gold Medalist rating from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in a critique of its 2005-06 issues.

The Campus Ledger earned 966 of a possible 1,000 points.

The judge wrote, "You cover your campus very well … Nice reporting jobs on the President/harassment issues in the April 13 paper! Facts weren't sensationalized, but were documented and attributed correctly."

The judge also wrote, "You've clearly worked very hard to produce a fine, well-planned publication worthy of the 'Gold' desigation!"

The editors of the 2005-06 Ledger were Joshua Seiden, Matthew Walsh, Miguel Morales and Aaron Whitebread. The adviser was Anne Christiansen-Bullers.

AWARD: First Amendment Grant

CMA awards The Campus Ledger First Amendment Grant

College Media Advisers awarded The Campus Ledger it's Ingelhart First Amendment Fund grant. The grant of $1,000 will allow The Ledger to hold a First Amendment week to coincide with "Sunshine Week" March 11-17, 2007. Earlier this summer, The Ledger earned a First Amendment award from the Society of Professional Jounrlaists.

From CMA:
In a time of world turmoil, some urge giving up basic rights to preserve security.
Others counter that what good is heightened security if we must give up the rights that are at the core of our freedom. It will not be easy to broaden everyone’s attitudes about the First Amendment, but it needs to be done. And, in the world of student media advising, with what many view as a challenge to the rights of our students and the erosion of their First Amendment protections, the time is now to provide educational outreach.

This is where CMA can help.

The grants will be awarded to CMA members to underwrite programs designed to elevate awareness of First Amendment freedoms on an individual campus. A total of Five (5) grant awards of up to $1,000 each will be awarded this year.

The Ingelhart First Amendment Fund was established by College Media Advisers Inc. and donors to educate students about freedoms protected by the First Amendment.

The fund is named for retired Ball State University journalism professor and First Amendment scholar Louis E. Ingelhart, who has dedicated much of his life to studying, writing about and teaching the First Amendment.

AWARD: Best in Show

The CAMPUS LEDGER Wins Second Place

The Campus Ledger, the student newspaper of Johnson County Community College, won second place in the "Best of Show" contest at the National Media Convention Oct. 25-29 in St. Louis.

Single issues from newspapers across the country were judged on both design and content in the on-site contest.

BREAKING NEWS: Kansas City Press Club

What: First Amendment forum involving college journalism

When: 6:30 p.m., Sept. 14
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania, Kansas City

Should student journalists publish stories and editorials that paint their college in a negative light? Should student journalists be allowed to publish summer editions when breaking news warrants? Some college administrators say no. College advisers and student editors say yes.

The Kansas City Press Club invites you to attend a forum exploring these important First Amendment issues. Please invite high school and college students to attend this educational session, too.

The panelists:

• Jennifer Schartz, former journalism teacher and adviser at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan.
• Her Kansas City-based lawyer, Larry Schumaker.

Background: The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri announced Aug. 14 the settlement of a First Amendment lawsuit against the community college on behalf of Schartz, who was fired after her students published articles and editorials about a scandal in the school's athletic department.

• Anne Christiansen-Bullers, Johnson County Community College journalism adviser.
• Student reporter Miguel Morales, who broke the story in The Campus Ledger about sexual harassment allegation against the school's president, Charles J. Carlsen, who since retired.

Background: Christiansen-Bullers led an effort to get authorization to publish the student newspaper this summer, mainly to cover the aftermath of the Carlsen story. The Board of Trustees denied the request, even though funds were available.

AWARD: SPJ First Amendment Award

SPJ honors Miguel Morales, Kevin Mimms and The Campus Ledger staff with First Amendment Award

INDIANAPOLIS–The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to honor Johnson County(Kansas) Community College students Miguel Morales, Kevin Mimms and the staff of The Campus Ledger with a First Amendment Award.

The Society’s First Amendment Awards recognize individuals and groups for extraordinarily strong efforts to preserve and strengthen the First Amendment. The awards are open to individuals and organizations, and are not limited to journalists.

“The young men and women on the JCCC campus newspaper both shame and energize me,” Chartrand said. “They remind me that a free press is relevant only so long as it delivers the citizenry what it cannot get from government – namely an independent influence on public policy and an implacable voice that ask questions and question the answers.”

Morales, Mimms and The Campus Ledger staff will be recognized Saturday, Aug. 26 during the President’s Installation Banquet at the 2006 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference.