Bulletin wins open government award

The Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government has named The Bulletin as one of two student newspapers in the state to receive the “Above and Beyond” award for “outstanding open-government reporting that has gone above excellence in news coverage about administrative problems at their universities.”

The Wichita State “Sunflower” is the other publication receiving the award.

The Bulletin award will be presented to staffers at 2 p.m. Friday in the Xi Phi room of the Memorial Union. The award will be given by coalition board member Max Kautsch, a media attorney who nominated the newspaper. There will be a separate ceremony for “The Sunflower” on the WSU campus.

It is the first time, the coalition noted in a press release, that campus publications have been selected for the honor. Past media recipients include the “Topeka Capital-Journal” and the “Wichita Eagle.”

The Bulletin was commended for its stories, beginning Feb. 15, about “Jane,” a Korean undergraduate who had filed a sexual misconduct complaint against a tenured psychology professor, but who felt betrayed by the university’s process. 

“The Bulletin’s courageous work in detailing the underlying facts that led to the student’s allegations of misconduct and how the university administration ignored recommendations to terminate the employment of the professor involved rose far above the paper’s routinely fine journalism and resulted in much needed change at the university,” Ron Keefover, the coalition president, said in a press release. “The Bulletin’s coverage also unveiled how the university forces students alleging sexual misconduct to sign nondisclosure agreements before the university investigates those claims.”

“The Sunflower” is receiving the award for its coverage of its aggressive reporting of an enrollment numbers controversy and for challenging the student government closure of fiscal affairs meetings. Both newspapers are facing significant funding cuts.

The Bulletin was nominated by Max Kautsch, coalition board member and the Kansas hotline press attorney, and was unanimously voted for by the Coalition’s board of directors.

“Their (Bulletin and “Sunflower”) coverage show tenacious, uncompromising search for the truth despite many strong efforts to keep the university communities and the public in the dark,” Keefover said in the press release. “The student journalists continually used the state’s open meetings and open records laws to uncover previously secret documents and decisions that had been made behind closed doors.”

The coalition also noted that, on the same day The Bulletin reported that the professor in question had again been placed on administrative leave pending a Title IX investigation, there was also a story about student government considering a 12 percent annual cut in the newspaper’s operating budget for the next four years.

“Despite these challenges, the paper’s call for the administration to be held accountable is inspirational for journalists and members of the public everywhere,” Keefover said. “Editor-in-Chief Rayna Karst, former editor-in-chief Sarah Spoon (who authored the original February 15, 2018, article about the student’s struggles), and reporter Allie Crome, along with faculty adviser Max McCoy, have been instrumental in publishing these stories.”

“This award is evidence of what I already knew about the Bulletin staff: they are a hard-working and courageous lot and dedicated to truth,” said McCoy, Bulletin adviser and professor of journalism. “The three student journalists who worked on the ‘Jane’ investigation came together in an impressive display of teamwork, professionalism, and discipline. Spoon, Crome and Karst were their own ‘Spotlight’ team, with all that entails: long hours, high stakes, and giving a voice to those who feel powerless. It has been my great honor to be their adviser.”

Karst, a senior English major who graduates this spring, thanked the staff.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Sunshine Coalition that my staff was thought of for this award,” Karst said. “Sarah Spoon and Allie Crome worked tirelessly to tell Jane’s story, and I am proud to have been their editor this year. However, we could not have done it without the rest of our staff taking on some extra responsibilities while the three of us were conducting the investigation. During the this process I was – and continue to be – awed by my staff’s hard work and perseverance. It has been an absolute pleasure being the editor of The Bulletin this year.”

Karst hoped that this award would set a precedent for student papers across the state. 

“I hope that this recognition inspires students newspapers across the state to keep fighting for truth and transparency, and to continue to give students a voice,” Karst said. “No matter how hopeless it may seem at times, our work does make a difference. What we do truly matters, and we must keep fighting.”

Spoon agreed.

“You never do this kind of work thinking about receiving an award,” said Spoon, junior Spanish and English major. “This job is truly important and, in my opinion, the most important thing a person can do. To give voice to those who have had their voice taken away is truly an honor. The real hero of this story is ‘Jane.’ She’s a rockstar and without her meticulous record keeping, this story never would have been finished.”

Crome, junior English education major, said she hopes the award will be an example.

“Student journalists often have to take a step back and don’t get the chance to be students,” Crome said. “Instead, we have to focus on the impact and implications of a story and give a voice to the rest of the student body. I hope that this will help set a precedent and inspire other student journalists to continue serving the students at their university to the best of their abilities.”

The Sunshine Coalition includes journalism professors, law professors, news media members and private citizens. Kautsch, who serves as the Kansas Press Association’s hotline attorney, sometimes represents The Bulletin in media law issues.