Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Media Ri By Kathy Edwards Gamecock Staf Writer "If they don't like it, they car go do something else," said US( President William H. Patter or in reply to criticism of his po * stating that certain Universit officials may only contact thi media through USC's Office o Information Services. The issue began July 1, whei Patterson issued a memorandun saying, "Effective July 1, 1974 all press releases, news con ferences, interviews and the lik< are to be coordinated througl Information Services. No offic of the University is authorized ti make direct contact with new media without coordinatioi through Information Services. And, although Sig Huitt Director of Information Services said they got no negative feed back, a second memo was issuet from Patterson's office to clarif3 the first. Patterson said in thal memo he did not mean t( discourage personal com munication. Rather, he said he intended to "assure coordinatior of dealings with the press or official statements from thi University on matters of publik interest, internal policy, etc." Patterson said Wednesday tha his intent was to "let the righ hand know what the left hand wa: doing." "It concerns only officia statements related to Universit; business," he added. Asked to comment on the ne' policy, Robert W. Foster dean ( the USC Law School said an misunderstanding after th second memo was a misur derstanding of what USC's ne' president was trying to do. Saying the new media polic was an effort only to coordinat University policy, Foster addet "In no way do I feel stifled in m individual freedoms." CHINA GARD] At Boozer Shop -PRIVATI We Serve Mandarin, C We serve Seer dn Wine seew We Qse 7 Osys. a ew s MAKING Bt UNMAKIN( for confiden on abortiom control,. and Call die Stirs Con Huitt agreed that coordination was the main objective. "It is not a muzzling thing at all," he said. He could cite no specific in stances where unqualified people spoke for the administration, but he made it clear that they wanted to separate "personal opinion from public policy." According to Huitt, this would make it easier for the press because it would present a unified view. Information Ser vices would act as "interpreter" Huitt said. People would still have the right to present their personal views, but they should be un derstood as just that, added e Huitt. s S 3 Other reactions to the "memoranda" went to both extremes. Assistant Dean of Education, Gyuri Nemeth said all of Education's communications going outside the department I were already handled through the school's dean before these t "memos" and he assumed this policy would continue. - Dean Harry Varney of General Studies said, "It really wouldn't affect us. I have no great I reaction to it." He said that the department had no trouble before. He also saw it as a t coordination of University policy. However, Dr. Kenneth Starck, a journalism professor, held a very different opinion. After l seeing the first memo, he said he was outraged. "I was outraged for two reasons. First of all, I am a journalist and it is impeding free flow of information and Y media access. Secondly, I am e outraged as a faculty member . because it is an infringement on academic freedom." In order to have free-thinking students, he said, you have to y have a free flow of information and ideas. EN RESTAURANT ping Center 798-1708 PARTY ROOMS antonese & American Foods WEEKDAYs WEEKEND WAMt@iPM I1AmtenPMt ABIFS IS FUN ! THFMLV ISN'TI ati information referral, birth venereal disease Hotline 7.42.6 troversy Another journalism professor, Dr. Reid Montgomery said, "You cannot keep people from speaking. Anybody has a right to speak to the press. We would hope that they would be responsible in doing it." Most of the people interviewed felt it was not really a regulation of their personal right to free speech. Most said it was a way to help the University operate more efficiently. The people affected by these memoranda are the highest administrators of the University and they have not in the past spoken only through In formational Services. The effects of the new media policy are already being felt by Gamecock staffers. One reporter requesting specific information from the new vice president of finance was refused and told to go through Information Services. Last week's GAMECOCK article entitled "Mountain Manor Inn Offers Quiet Retreat," located on page 12, was, to say the least, very poorly timed. The Inn described in the article was closed at the time of publication, and it will not l; reopening to our knowledge. The GAMECOCK deeply regrets any inconvenience caused our readers by publication of the article. Ne Art-i Sa "If they don't like it they c 0ody by S"n June 25 - August 11 MYRTLE BEACH COI box office teler UNIVERSITY OF SOUTI K le an go do something else." wison Tues. - Sun. 8:30 p.m. MVENTION CENTER hone 448-3041 - CAROLINA THEATFE 4 ,,