Embattled adviser receives pay raise, faces new snag

MARYLAND ‘ A beleaguered college newspaper adviser had $4,000 in pay penalty restored in October ‘ good news that was tempered by a new round of sanctions against the student publication.

William Lawbaugh, a professor at Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg and The Mountain Echo‘s faculty adviser, was denied a raise awarded to the rest of the faculty 18 months ago. Lawbaugh said the penalty stemmed from his refusal to review the paper’s content before it goes to press. Mount St. Mary’s officials claimed it was punishment for a possible misappropriation of funds, as well as Lawbaugh’s refusal to screen ‘juicy stories’ in the 122-year old publication.

Now that the university has decided to revoke the penalty, administrators have hired an outside consultant to investigate Lawbaugh and his advising. The consultant will apparently enforce the new sanctions, which range from anonymous evaluations by the college each semester to demanding ‘appropriate respect and loyalty to Mount St. Mary’s College.’