WEST VIRGINIA -- The Mercury may not be rising this fall at
Glenville State College if The Mercury Strategic Plan Task Force
follows through with all of its recommendations for the school's student
newspaper.
Christopher Williams, office manager of The Mercury, said the
college's president formed the committee to make some major changes to
the paper, including a revision of the newspaper's charter and development
of a publication committee that Williams said could regulate story content
before publication.
The task force is looking into areas of the paper's operation, including
its budget, format, mission and purpose, number of issues, production schedule,
staffing policies and adviser selection as well as ways to "ensure that
it meets the mission" of the school.
He said the committee is also considering moving the newspaper office
from its current location and totally eliminating the print version of
the paper, leaving a solely online publication.
Williams said among the explanations given for the changes is the fact
that the paper's budget, which is funded by student fees, is being affected
by a decline in enrollment.
However, he also said school officials have been upset with critical
articles The Mercury has printed and thinks the administration's
view that the paper has not done "an adequate job of informing students
on campus" really disguises its desire to control content.
"They don't want us to print anything derogatory to the university,"
Williams said.