Kan. university removes adviser after complaints about diversity coverage
Kansas State University adviser Ron Johnson believes paper's content was a major factor in the decision
© 2004 Student Press Law Center

May 11, 2004

KANSAS — Ron Johnson, veteran adviser of the Kansas State Collegian, was fired May 10 as adviser of the student newspaper and removed from his position as director of the corporation that oversees student publications at the university. Johnson believes the Collegian's content was a major factor in the decision.

Todd Simon, director of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and chairman of the student publications board, announced the decision at a board meeting, but gave no explanation for Johnson's dismissal. Johnson will remain on the Kansas State University faculty through the 2004-05 school year.

Johnson said it appears that Simon acted on his own without consulting the publications board members or student journalists. The regularly scheduled board meeting did not have a quorum and no vote was taken.

Simon did not return requests for comment. He told the Collegian that he could not comment because it was a personnel matter.

Stephen White, dean of arts and sciences, and Provost James Coffman must sign off on Simon's decision.

Neither would discuss the matter.

Student journalists, Collegian alumni and advisers across the country pledged to fight the university over what Katie Lane, the newspaper's editor in chief, called a "huge mistake."

Johnson and the Collegian have been embroiled in controversy since February, when the newspaper failed to cover the Big 12 Diversity Leadership Conference, a gathering about 1,000 students to the campus in Manhattan.

The Black Student Union, a student group at the public university, alleged that the newspaper did not adequately cover minority students' issues and events. Members of the group led protests against the newspaper and Johnson, calling for his resignation because they believed he was not doing enough to promote diversity coverage by the newspaper.

Students also objected to the newspaper's publication of a headline that they considered racially insensitive and a comment from the call-in line, a system in which anonymous readers call in to voice opinions, that they considered racist.

Johnson said he has no doubt that the controversy was a factor in Simon's decision.

"Todd Simon, in his recommendation to the dean that I not be renewed, prepared a content analysis of the newspaper and used that as part of his justification," Johnson said. "The clear implication of the timing [of the decision] follows the semester that we've had."

Courts have consistently ruled that media advisers at public colleges cannot exert any editorial control over student publications.

Johnson said he is prepared to "do whatever we can to strengthen collegiate journalism at K-State," including legal action.

Johnson said he was frustrated and discouraged at the news of his dismissal, but he said he was not surprised.

"Was it completely unexpected? Well no, because we have been in a very intense controversy where administrative support for the free student press has been virtually nonexistent," Johnson said.

Johnson has been the newspaper's adviser since 1989. He is a former president of College Media Advisers.

Kathy Lawrence, the current president of CMA and director of student publications at the University of Texas at Austin, condemned Johnson's dismissal.

She said that in addition to CMA members sending letters of protest to the university administration, CMA is organizing a group to go to Manhattan May 13 and meet with administrators.

"The purpose of our sending someone there is simply to express our feeling that what's happened at K-State is a real threat to the independence of student media there and any place else," Lawrence said. "All of us who care about college media and student press freedom are incredibly embarrassed and ashamed that a university like Kansas State would make a move like this."

Lawrence said Johnson's dismissal has negative consequences for student journalists.

"The chilling effect that something like this has on students when their adviser is fired over the content of the newspaper is a pretty incredible thing," Lawrence said.

The Collegian's editor said she was frustrated and angry that Simon did not consult with student journalists about Johnson's ability to advise the newspaper.

Lane praised Johnson for "giving us the respect and trust that we need to make the decisions on our own, and to even make mistakes on our own.

"I just don't understand how people who are above him can't see that, can't see the things that he does for us. They never even bothered to ask us."

In February 1998, Johnson was removed as adviser for refusing to exert editorial control over the newspaper. He was reinstated 10 days later.

Johnson's last day as adviser and director of student publications is May 24.

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