the lost boys | National Poetry Month

In a distant but uncomfortably close land,

an uncivil war created them.

They tried to recall their lost years

like brothers reminiscing a family vacation.

They remembered the soldiers that hunted them.

But they couldn’t agree which was more dangerous,

the lions that stalked children on land

or the crocodiles that snatched them in the rivers.

Dominic shielded his face in his hands becoming 
that 10 year-old lost in the dessert.

As he looked up raising his head,

his slender fingers wiped his confusion away,

a mannerism he said he developed long ago.

Simon sat still as his lost brother spoke,

and smiled uncomfortably the way I’ve seen others do

when they can’t sign their names

or don’t understand English.

Speaking of hunger and horrors I’ll never know,

They described their tearless trail.

Tears required water they didn’t possess

and energy they couldn’t spare.

Their silence told stories they couldn’t share
with those who aren’t of the Lost.

Their dark eyes eternally roam,
assessing and searching 
even in serene surroundings.

Yet despite their conditioning,
they reached out to connect

another gift from the desert.

This poem was inspired by an article I wrote for The Campus Ledger

NEWS: Carlsen's 2006 Harassment

Portions of this article originally appeared on
The Campus Ledger Online April 21, 2006

Carlsen's unwelcome visits continued into 2006
Female employee says her supervisor knew of Carlsen's visits and still did nothing

by Miguel M. Morales

A new document reveals Teresa Lee, manager, Human Resources, feared the college president, Charles Carlsen, would resume sexually harassing her.

The Ledger obtained a new document describing a visit Carlsen made to Lee's office one month before allegations of unlawful harassment against him became public.

A previous 22-page document described alleged unlawful harassment by the former college president from May to November 2003.

“I am shaking about it”
The new document dated March 14, 2006, states Carlsen came into the Human Resource office where Lee works and sat in her private office until Dorothy Freidrich, then director of Human Resources, interrupted.

"Dorothy came in to say that she had [someone] on the phone and wanted to know if Dr. Carlsen was able to be a part of a conference call," Lee writes in the document. "He made a joke that he didn't like the look in her eye and then said he could.

"He stayed seated in my office after she left ... I thought it odd that he wouldn't just get up and leave."

According to the document, after Carlsen left, Lee spoke to others in her department as she had in 2003.

"I then went out to ask [another employee] what Carlsen had asked her," she continues. "[The employee] told me that he had asked her about [a Human Resources] issue. She directed him to me as she was now out of the loop.

"I told her, 'Gee, thanks!'"

"I am not sure why he is in my office again. He was in last week as well and I let Dorothy [Friedrich] know. I would think that the man would never set foot in my office again."
Teresa Lee, manager, Human Resources

The employee asked if Carlsen was again in Lee’s office with the door closed.

"I told her that it hadn't stopped Carlsen in the past whether the door was closed or not," Lee writes.

Lee also wrote that she thought this type of behavior from Carlsen ended in 2003 after she confronted him about his unlawful harassment. According to information from a previous document, that was the meeting where Carlsen admitted harassing Lee.
"I am not sure why he is in my office again. He was in last week as well and I let Dorothy know," Lee writes in the new document. "I would think that the man would never set foot in my office again.

"I am a little concerned that he is going to start something again. I haven't been keeping track of his visits but I think I will need to start again ... Now I am shaking about it."

“Satisfactorily resolved”
April 13, nine days after denying the allegations of unlawful harassment in The Ledger, Carlsen released a statement resolving to take a leave of absence while a third party investigated the allegations. In the statement, Carlsen again denied the allegations.

"I am deeply distressed by reports in our campus newspaper about a personnel issue brought to my attention two and one-half years ago that I was assured had been adequately addressed and satisfactorily resolved at that time," his statement read.

The meeting Carlsen referred to took place Nov. 14, 2003.

The meeting involved Susan Lindahl, vice president of College Relations and Strategic Initiatives; Friedrich, then director of Human Resources, now vice president; Lee; and Carlsen.

Lee's calendar shows a 10 a.m. meeting with Carlsen that day, which corroborates the date in her narrative.

Lee's narrative describes Carlsen as "uncomfortable" during the meeting. He also admitted that he didn't know why he harassed her.

The document also reveals Friedrich said the college would pay Lee's legal fees.

"My legal fees -- Dorothy said after the meeting for me to submit them to her and we would try to get them paid under consulting fees," Lee writes.

In an e-mail to her attorney that day, Lee writes, "While I was meeting with you the powers-that-be-met with him. We all met this morning and he apologized to me and discussed how we could improve the current procedure for handling this type of problem."
Her lawyer responded, "I am pleased that your concerns were recognized as important. I am also pleased, but surprised, that the issue was addressed by JCCC without a formal complaint from you.

"Pat yourself on the back for standing up for yourself, and for handling the situation professionally and with class. Keep a journal of any further incidents, and stay in touch."

Lee took his advice.In 2004, she documented contacting and meeting with Board of Trustee chair, Elaine Perilla, regarding Carlsen's unlawful harassment. Lee also documented Carlsen's March visit.“Exceeding expectations”
Trustees, including Perilla, deny knowledge of the alleged sexual harassment.

Lindahl and Friedrich have yet to deny knowledge of the alleged sexual harassment or that they impeded the process by not reporting it.

Lee's performance appraisal forms, or evaluations, from fall 2002 to fall 2005 rate her overall work performance as "exceeding expectations."

Friedrich, who conducted each evaluation, noted in the fall 2003 appraisal, "You have a trusting relationship with many supervisors on campus. They frequently seek your advice on personnel matters. I consider this to be a major strength for you and for the division.

"I respect your advice and value you as a colleague. I genuinely appreciate your commitment to our team."

¡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 ...

Follow this Leader

C3 Coach Steve Buttry (center) working with the staff of The Campus Ledger at Johnson County Community College in 2003.

I don't know how to say this delicately so I'll just say it. If you're not following Steve Buttry's tweets you're an idiot.

OK, maybe that was a bit harsh.

Buttry is the C3 Coach for Gazette Communications in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Buttry says his role as C3 coach is to "guide Gazette Communications in our pursuit of Complete Community Connection."

He previously worked for the American Press Institute, the Omaha World Herald, the Kansas City Star, and a bunch of other places.

I met Steve a few years back via Poynter's NewsCoach listserve. He immediately impressed me with how supportive he is of other journalists (including students) and that he always learning from journalists (including students). But what I love most about Steve is that he's not one of the journalism dinosaurs that we're waiting to die off. You know what I mean, those individuals who are deathly afraid of, well, a complete community connection.

Check him out on his blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, NT-NG, Slideshare ... oh hell, just Google him.

NEWS: Hodge's Power Point

Video courtesy of Cameron Fletcher of The Campus Ledger

Trustee Benjamin Hodge continued his efforts to challenge the Board of Trustees, JCCC President Terry Calaway and College Attorney Mark Ferguson on Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) violations.

Read The Campus Ledger coverage of the alleged KOMA violations here (March 12) and here (April 13).

During the Petitions and Communications section of the board's monthly meeting, Hodge called for Trustees Lyn Mitchelson and Shirley Brown VanArsdale to step down from the leadership of the board. Unlike the last meeting in March, Ferguson, Calaway and the other trustees chose not to respond to Hodge.

Allotted 5 minutes to make his case, Hodge vowed to continue his PowerPoint presentation at the next board meeting. However, video provided by The Campus Ledger shows Hodge's presentation goes on for almost double the allotted time.

Before Hodge's presentation, trustees approved granting domestic partner benefits to full time employees. In 2006, the board approved adding sexual orientation to the college's non-discrimination policy and Student Code of Conduct.

Other board actions are listed in the Board of Trustee Summary posted on the college's electronic mail server, Infolist.

From: InfoList
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 6:49 PM
To: InfoList
Subject: [infolist] Trustee meeting summary

On April 15 the JCCC board of trustees met for their regular monthly meeting, immediately followed by a budget workshop. Trustee Jon Stewart was unable to attend.

Awards and recognition

The board welcomed the president and staff members from University College of the North, Manitoba, Canada, who are on campus to look at the college’s partnership with Burlington Northern Santa Fe and other learning opportunities.
Dr. Sean Daley, assistant professor, anthropology, was recognized for the work he has done with and for Native American populations.
JCCC’s men’s basketball team and women’s half-marathon team were honored for winning national championships. The volleyball team was recognized for being second in the national tournament.
The Nerman Museum has seen an increase in visitors of more than 18 percent in the first three months of the year, from 14,495 in 2008 to 17,239 in 2009.

Actions taken

· The board approved the treasurer’s report.

· The board approved clinical affiliate agreements for students in health care professions programs.

· The board approved new classes in animation, anthropology, biology, web, English, physical education, journalism, mathematics and psychology and a new career certificate in animation and game art.

· The board approved a proposal from HMN Architects, Inc., for architectural services and associated subconsultant services for the Health Services Educational Center at Olathe Medical Center, in an amount not to exceed 5.75 percent of the guaranteed maximum price construction cost. The estimated cost for architectural services is approximately $723,750, plus usual and customary reimbursable expenses.

· The board approved the lowest acceptable bids of $36,533.70 from All Sun Plus and $99,651.75 from Alexander Open Systems for Cisco equipment to be used in the Billington Library data closets to upgrade and improve network speed and reliability.

· The board approved several recommendations regarding employee benefits.

o A flex benefit amount of $1,189.88 a month for each full-time position to be used to cover the costs of benefits within the flex benefit plan. Fixed flex credit funding does not increase from FY 2008-2009.

o A contribution equal to 7 percent of each full-time, benefit-eligible staff member’s base salary to his or her individual 403(b) account, effective June 1, 2009.

o Employee group medical insurance with BCBS of KC for a period beginning June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010. Monthly subscriber rates will not exceed, for single, $465.15 Blue-Care HMO and $836.40 for Preferred Care PPO; for an employee and one dependent, $852.88 for Blue-Care and $1,538.18 for Preferred Care; and for family, $1,169.29 Blue-Care and $2,035.05 Preferred Care. The rates represent a 5.5 percent increase in premiums and include domestic partner coverage

o Employee group CDC managed care dental insurance with Cigna Health Care for a period beginning June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010. Monthly subscriber rates are, for single, $24.76; for an employee and one dependent, $50.23; and for family, $77.40. These rates represent a 6 percent increase in premiums and include domestic partner coverage.

o Employee group Passive PPO dental insurance with Delta Dental for a period beginning June 1, 2009, through May 1, 2010. Monthly subscriber rates are, for singles, $32.64; for an employee and one dependent, $63.73; and for family, $113.21. These rates represent a 4.75 percent increase in premiums and include domestic partner coverage.

o Employee group vision insurance with Vision Service Plan (VSP) for a period beginning June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010. Monthly subscriber rates are, for single, $15.32; for an employee and one dependent, $22.37; and for family coverage, $40.12. There is no increase in the rates this year compared to last year.

o Provision of employee group life insurance with Sun-Life of Canada for a period beginning June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010. Monthly rates are $.255/per $1,000 of insurance for Basic Life, $.195/per $1,000 of insurance for Optional Life, $.02/per $1,000 of insurance for Basic and Contributory AD&D; and for dependent life insurance at a monthly subscriber rate not to exceed $3.03 per month. There is no increase in the rates this year compared to last year.

· The board also approved the annual renewal of the contract for administration of the college’s flexible spending account program with Cafeteria Plan Administrators LLC at a total annual expenditure not to exceed $55,000.

· The board also approved bids for an Internet protocol (IP) addressing system, to replace the floors in the Commons dining area, and for a project portfolio management solution for Information Services.

Budget workshop

Four trustees reviewed the college’s proposed 2009-2010 budget of $134,254,187, which is 6 percent lower than the 2008-2009 budget of $142,917,552. The budget was built on these assumptions:

We’d see a 4 percent decrease in assessed valuation from the county, a 13 percent decrease in monies from the state and a 3 percent increase in enrollment.
There will be no increase in the mill levy this year.
There will be a $4 increase in cost per credit hour for in-state students and a $10 increase for out-of-state students.
There will be no increase in staffing.
There was no increase in operation budget (except for expenses, like utilities, that are difficult to control). Capital budgets were based on need.
Students presented a proposal for a “green” fee that would be assessed students to support sustainability initiatives. One collar of the tuition increase will be used for this purpose.

The board will approve the college’s 2009-2010 management budget at the May board meeting and the legal budget in August.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the JCCC board of trustees is at 5 p.m. May 21 in the Hugh W. Speer Board Room, 137 GEB. Board of trustee meetings are open to the public. For more details, see a copy of the board packet at http://www.jccc.net/home/depts.php/000001/site/BoardMeetingInfo/JCCCBoardReports

NEWS: Ledger Earns Top J-Prize

One for the Ledger

The Campus Ledger earned top honors at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Adviser (CMA) National College Media Convention in Kansas City, Nov. 1.

The Ledger, celebrating it's 30th year, brought home the Pacemaker award for excellence in collegiate journalist. Since 1927, the Pacemaker has been the highest honor available to ACP members and is considered the Pulitzer Prize of college media.

Twenty-five newspapers earned the Pacemaker. Judges from The St. Petersburg Times selected 48 entries for recognition out of 241 entries in three categories.

According to ACP newspaper finalists were selected based on excellence in the following areas:

• Coverage and content
• Quality of writing and editing
• Leadership on the opinion page
• Evidence of in-depth reporting
• Layout and design
• Photography, art and graphics.

Later in the fall, the ACP webpage will feature links to publication images and comments from the judges.

ACP is a division of the National Scholastic Press Association, a non-profit education organization which strives to educate and recognize the work of student journalists, to improve the quality of student media and to foster careers in media.

COMMENTARY: J Advice for new Prez

Guarding our Watchdogs

Frank LoMonte, director of the Student Press Law Center penned a terrific column on the Education Advice for the New President blog.

In the column, "Protect Student Journalism," LoMonte wrote that today's student journalists face more challenges and carry more responsibility.

"With professional journalism outlets slashing staff, the watchdog role of student journalists in holding our schools accountable for their performance is more important than ever," he wrote.

I've made a few emergency calls to SPLC while a staffer on the student newspaper The Campus Ledger. I wouldn't have been able to investigate and publish my 13-month investigative story on the allegations of sexual harassment against my college president, who immediately stepped down and retired when the story broke.

Student journalists give voice to the campus community and ensure public business takes place in public. Thank goodness there is an organization like SPLC that strives to ensure the rights and voices of student journalists.

Become a fan of SPLC on facebook here.

NEWS: Krebs on Krebs

The Campus Ledger's Matt Gallaway and Cameron Fletcher interviewed Fred Krebs, professor, History, and son of Virginia Krebs, trustee, who recently resigned her position.

"My mom's always been the shining light up there," he says in the audio interview.

Fred discusses his mother's stint as the college's first employee, her tenure as a trustee and what to expect in a replacement.

"We're gonna miss that -- not that sense of legacy -- but that sense of carrying out a trust with the community," he says.

Read The Ledger story and listen to the audio interview here.

ARCHIVES: Betty Bullock

Monday a friend passed away. She always supported my reporting on the college and never feared going on the record even when it put her at risk. Here is the article that introduced me to Betty Bullock:

Remembering September 11th: a day of contrasts

by Miguel M. Morales

Juliet Kincaid began her 60th birthday last year in a bad mood.

"I hadn't accomplished all the goals that I wanted to in life," said Kincaid, professor, English.

Kincaid took comfort in her Tuesday teaching schedule. Keeping busy would suppress her grumpy mood, she said.

Kincaid and her daughter heard the news report over the radio while driving to the college.

"It all happened so fast. Just as soon as we heard about the first plane, the second plane hit," she said. "Then the towers collapsed. I will never have a worse birthday than that one."

Concerns over her own life goals vanished immediately, she said.

"I was affected by depression, so were my students," said Kincaid. "They were distracted into the spring semester."

Even her everyday tasks took on new meaning. Kincaid said repeatedly hearing Sept. 11 in the media and in conversations became difficult and inescapable.

"When I would go to the bank and the teller would see my ID, they would recoil at the sight," she said.

Kincaid didn’t celebrate her birthday this year. She doesn't know if she ever will again.

"It's not my day anymore," she said. "That day belongs to the country."

Betty Bullock shares the same birthday, though she has different feelings about the day and its importance in her life.

The plan was for six friends to join Bullock, assistant professor, Sociology for dinner.

"After the day's events, I e-mailed everyone that I still intended to go out to eat," said Bullock. "If they needed to stay with their families, I understood and we would celebrate another time."

Bullock’s birthday celebration was to be at her favorite restaurant followed by cake and ice cream at home.

"Without exception, they all replied they would meet me there," said Bullock.

The group expressed their concerns over the day’s events.

"We also laughed a lot because we needed that release," she said. "We toasted friendship and life and honored the souls of those who had made their transition. We shared our food and our fear, but most of all we shared our friendship."

The group talked into the early morning, enjoying cake and ice cream.

"Whenever anyone asks when my birthday is, I reply 'You will never forget my birthday, ever,'" she said. "Then with slow recognition, they ask hesitantly, '9/11?'"

Bullock celebrated her 54th birthday by again inviting friends for dinner.

"I honor that particular day, as I do everyday, by filling it with love."

Originally published in The Campus Ledger, Sept. 12, 2002

NEWS: Falling Star

The Kansas City Star announced today that it will cut 120 full-time jobs. The cuts support McClatchy's effort to cut 1,4000 jobs nationwide. In 2006, McClatchy purchased Knight Ridder, the former owner of The Star and dozens of other papers.

This move will further affect coverage of the college. Last year, The Star eliminated it's education reporter position and since then news of JCCC has taken shape in newsbriefs culled from the college's press releases.

The effort to cover the college will fall to the smaller papers like The Johnson County Sun, The Olathe News and to the campus newspaper, The Campus Ledger.

NEWS: Graffiti Update

Student says college's call for 'extra sets of eyes' put him in security's focus

Bartholomew Klick, a student at Johnson County Community College and former reporter for The Campus Ledger, stepped forward as the student who reported the latest graffiti incident.

According to Klick's blog the college's public safety officers questioned him in a rather aggressive manner.

“The school gestapo came after I reported it and collected all of my personal info. I have nothing to hide and no real reluctance about answering questions such as, "Where do you live?" and "what is your phone number?" -- but I can't help feel like they had no real reason to ask me about that and not bother to ask me questions relevant to the issue.”

Klick said he understood the concern but wondered if the manner of questioning might dissuade him and others from reporting similar incidents in the future.

May 7 a posting on the college's electronic mail server, Infolist asked for volunteers to act as "extra sets of eyes" to help catch the person or persons responsible for the threats. Read the post here.

BREAKING NEWS: Coaches Quit

Cameron Fletcher, sports editor for The Campus Ledger, is reporting on his blog that three head coaches at Johnson County Community College have stepped down from their positions.

Details are sketchy but according to Fletcher's post the three coaches are:

Debbie Carrier, head coach of Women's Basketball

From Carrier's Bio:

Head coach Debbie Carrier has built a program at Johnson County Community College that has catapulted the program into the national spotlight as annual contender for the NJCAA Division II title, and a consistent top-15 nationally ranked program in the NJCAA coaches poll.

The 2007-08 season was another impressive campaign for the all-time winningest coach in JCCC history. Carrier has led this year’s team to a school record 28 wins, and along the way her team won its ninth straight Region VI title, sixth District B championship, made sixth appearance in the NJCAA D-II National Tournament, finished fourth in the final coaches poll, and fifth in the National Tournament. Read the rest of her bio here.

Jill Stinson, head coach of Volleyball

From Stinson's bio:

From the outset, it was evident Stinson would carry on the tradition while establishing a legacy of her own. Johnson County raced out of the gate her first season with a school record 13 straight wins, breaking a 15-year mark. That fast start also helped JCCC receive a top-20 national ranking. Her team went on to capture a school and conference record eighth consecutive conference championship. That string was extended to 10 straight years. In 2003, Stinson again led JCCC to a conference title, but added region and district titles as well, and a ninth-place finish in the NJCAA D-II Tournament. It was JCCC’s first national tournament appearance in 20 years. Read the rest of her bio here.

Joe Weis, head coach men's and women's track

From Weis' bio:

Since taking the reins of the track and field program at Johnson County Community College, Joe Weis has found tremendous success. As he enters his sixth year at the helm, Weis, his staff and his teams continue to establish their marks in the lore of Cavalier history, shattering school records and adding numerous All-Americans to the illustrious luminaries of JCCC’s storied past. Judging by his results, both as a coach and as an athlete, this path looks to continue into the future. Read the rest of his bio here.

BREAKING NEWS: Threats Continue

Danger or Diversion?
Campus wonders if graffiti threats foretell violence or are tactics to disrupt finals

A Johnson County Community College student discovered another graffiti threat last night in the Billington Library.

According to a posting on the college's electronic server dedicated to the library staff, the threat mentioned a specific date -- May 15.

"Just to let everyone know, last night a student reported another incident of graffiti in the first floor men’s restroom," the posting reads. "Apparently the graffiti mentioned May 15 as a specific date."

The post added that the Department of Public Safety documented the threat and to talked to the student who reported the incident.

In an April 30 posting to another of the college's electronic mail servers, Infolist, Terry Calaway, president of JCCC, said the campus community has no reason for alarm.

"The most likely motivation for these actions is to cause turmoil rather than to perpetrate an actual act of violence," he said. "However, a positive effect of such a situation is that it raises awareness. This is a stressful time of year for all of us." Read the full posting here.

The Campus Ledger reported the college's response to previous graffiti threats.

Threats of violence on campus are being combated with awareness.

The evening of April 23, an adjunct professor discovered graffiti in a stall of the men’s restroom on the second floor of GEB. It threatened violent acts on campus in May.

The following Monday, April 28, a similar incident of graffiti was reported to be found in the men’s bathroom on the second floor of the Science Building.

Terry Calaway, college president, said, “We do not feel that there is any reason for alarm or worry. This is most likely someone trying to cause panic.” Read The Ledger story here.

A week later, another posting on Infolist called for volunteers to report additional instances of graffiti. Read the full posting here.

That same day Calaway addressed the graffiti incidents during a town hall meeting. He said no specifics were given nor were any specific groups targeted. He added that Overland Park police reported similar incidents at area high schools and attributed them to students wanting to get out of class. Read the Town Hall notes here

The two occurrences incidents reported by The Ledger and the one in the latest incident in library all appeared in men's restrooms. A previous threat appeared in the library women's restroom in February. Read that account here.

NEWS: College Hires Sex Offender

Reporter Cameron Fletcher's latest article in Johnson County Community College's student newspaper, The Campus Ledger, examines proposed background checks for employees.

However, what readers won't learn is that Fletcher discovered the college actually hired a registered sexual offender.

According to Fletcher's original article, the work-study employee served as administrative support for three semesters in the college's Railroad Operations department. The article also notes college administrators admit the college has no policy addressing the hiring of registered sex offenders.

Update: At the request of a source close to the situation, I've edited out an earlier comment speculating why the story didn't run. The intent of this posting is not to attack The Ledger staff (outgoing or incoming) but rather to highlight the crucial and essential skills student journalists need to edit effectively and in the voice of the reporter. That is only one of the many responsibilities an editor carries.

Update: The source agreed to go back on the record.

Fletcher doesn't know why Ledger editors cut the information on the college employee. He wants to give them the benefit of the doubt.

"I think it had to do with space, I was slightly perturbed by it. But what are you gonna do?" he asked. "I would rather they had something else cut out instead of that. The way it was printed was kind of softball-ish."

Read Fletcher's version here.
Read The Ledger version here.

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

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: Student Petition

The Ledger is on a roll this issue with three, that's right, three compelling news stories.

An investigation by Linda Friedel reveals that a few students in the college's Interior Design classes want to force an instructor to change her teaching style which allegedly includes intimidation and humiliation.

“Some students say they are fed up with their treatment from a faculty member who is their advisor and mentor.”

Read the rest of the story here: Petition in Design Department Calls for Change

COMMENTARY: Safety Survey Finally Surfaces

Safety Survey Seeks to Substantiate Armed Officers

Randy Garcia (left), evening supervisor of DPS, and Chuck Northcott (right), DPS officer, demonstrate techniques for using pepper spray in the training room at the Police Academy. The entire department will go through both baton and pepper spray training. Photo by Alexia Lang. Courtesy of The Campus Ledger

After providing budget, training, and equipment college seeks permission for actions

The college's Institutional Research department sent me this e-mail last week. But since I was sick, I let it sit. I finally read it and to my surprise, it's the often invoked and untimely armed campus survey.

“In an effort to increase campus security, the College has undertaken a review of whether the JCCC Public Safety Department should become an official police department and arm those officers who are state certified. Currently, the JCCC Public Safety Department has a large number of retired police officers with over 670 years of combined law enforcement experience.

As part of this review process, the Office of Institutional Research has been asked to survey JCCC students, faculty, and staff. The survey consists of five short questions and should only take a minute to complete. All responses will be kept strictly confidential and reported as grouped data only; you will never be identified as the source of individual replies or comments. If you have any questions, please contact me at 913-469-8500 ext. 2443 or email me at rbrewer6@jccc.edu.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would complete the survey as soon as possible but no later than April 4th, 2008.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important project.

Please click the following link to access the survey:
http://vovici.com/l.dll/JGs72D9D794D9lcsD9U4629J.htm”

I don't know if it's open to the public but it should be. So in the interest of transparency, anyone interested in voicing an opinion should feel free to use the link sent to me.

One of the five questions (is that all?) asks if the college should use batons and pepper spray. Its a bit late to ask, isn't it?

Last Thursday, The Ledger's Matt Galloway wrote an update to his guns on campus story noting that the college has already trained officers in use of pepper spray and batons.

Related: JCCCPD, Meeting on Safety, Cops Gone Wild

NEWS: Missing Student update

Last Thursday, Matt Galloway, news editor for The Campus Ledger, published his controversial update on the missing student. The article explained why the student went missing and how the initial reaction of the college blocked initial search efforts.

“When a student went missing from campus on Feb. 14, her father turned to the first college employees he could find for assistance.
He said those employees couldn’t have been any ruder in his hour of need.”

Read the rest of the story here: Disappearing student tests college’s emergency response

INFOLIST: Cops Gone Wild?

With students on spring break will
COPS GO WILD?

Overland Park Police conduct an "active shooter" training for JCCC public safety officers Dec. 19, 2007.
Photo by John Young, courtesy of The Campus Ledger

Visitors to campus next week will find the Overland Park's finest flashing -- their badges.

According to a posting on the college's electronic mail server, Infolist, it's all part of of an officer's training that will take place during spring break.

OPPD TRAINING ON CAMPUS OVER SPRING BREAK
Over spring break the Overland Park Police Department will be conducting some officers’ driving training on campus in the Train, Clock West and Clock East lots.

Last December, the OPPD conducted an "active shooter" training on campus in the Carlsen Center for the college's public safety officers.

Also in December the Board of Trustees agreed to place an OPPD officer on campus starting January 2008 for trail period of six months.

In February, the Board of Trustees approved purchasing bullet-proof vests, OC (pepper) spray and a batons along with two fully-equipped police vehicles.

Despite these actions, the college maintains it has not decided on whether to allowing public safety officers to carry weapons or if it will create a college police force.