Although media received a press release about the student diversity forum on campus today, they were asked to leave after students said they felt uncomfortable.
“It is a First Amendment issue, but the controlling policy statement is in the statute,” said Max Kautsch, hotline attorney at kspress.com. “‘In recognition of the fact that a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate, it is declared to be the policy of this state that meetings for the conduct of governmental affairs and the transaction of governmental business be open to the public.'”
Emporia State has faced a series of public relations challenges this fall, including racial discrimination lawsuits and a reported rape at a fraternity. Melvin Hale, assistant professor of the School of Library and Information Management, who filed one of the discrimination lawsuits, was in the hall outside the forum at the Preston Family room when administrators drew the blinds.
Hale said he thought the only reason the university conducted a diversity forum was because of the lawsuit filed against the university by him and his wife on Oct. 14, claiming false light, invasion of privacy and defamation.
“I consider it part of the sham, part of the cover up,” Hale said. “They won’t talk to us and they won’t resolve our issues. They want to move forward and leave us behind.”
The purpose of the was to seek input on how to build a better, stronger, more inclusive Hornet Nation in which all voices are heard and respected, and everyone has a sense of belonging, according to a university press release on Nov. 17.
The university hired a consultant, Robert Page, founder of The Legacy Group, to help with the project. Page said he took full responsibility for the request that the media leave the forum.
“My role is to make sure we’re providing students with a safe environment,” Page said. “I messed up and now we want to know how we move forward.”
Page, who has been working a diversity and inclusivity for 24 years, said his goal was to create a road map detailing ways to foster an inclusive environment by February.
“It’s come to my attention students were under the assumption that media would not be here,” said Jackie Vietti, interim president. “On the other hand, media received media about the forum. When the students expressed concern about their not feeling as comfortable speaking up, it’s true the media were asked to leave. In the future we will avoid that confusion and move forward from here as we plan future conversations with students.”
Despite the confusion with the media, Vietti said she thought the forum went fairly well, but she wished more students had turned out.
“I don’t want the confusion to overshadow what we are trying to do,” Vietti said. “And what we are trying to do is learn from the students’ experiences what their unmet needs are so we can build that diversity and inclusion plan.”
After assessing the situation and speaking to both parties, Kevin Johnson, general counsel, said the meeting had to be open to the public, including media.
“Regardless of whether it (asking the media to leave) was the right thing to do or not, I think the intention was to create a safe space for students to speak, so at least in terms of intention, I think the intentions were good,” said David Cordle, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.