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The Reporter
December
2000 A Message from the 2nd Vice
President The Society for Collegiate Journalists is calling upon chapter advisers and member students to take part in a dramatic national recruitment drive to strengthen and expand the organization . SCJ 2nd Vice President Bill Ruehlmann is sending a January 2001 call for present chapters in good standing to enlist new ones for the society. "If each current SCJ chapter will recruit one new chapter at a nearby college or university this semester," he writes, "our membership will double; if you will recruit two, it will triple." An adviser himself to the McDonald Award-winning Virginia Wesleyan College chapter in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va., Ruehlmann credits his students with the creative impetus for moving forward. Melissa Harris, the VWC chapter member who became this year’s National SCJ Student Journalist of the Year, believes the drive is essential. "SCJ needs to grow," she writes. "For that to happen, we need the help and cooperation of each and every chapter. I invite you to seize this opportunity for recruitment to share with others what we have been able to experience through SCJ." Ruehlmann and Harris, with the help of current VWC chapter president Cindy Dixon, have put together a jump-off package on how to get started recruiting. "SCJ has made an important difference in our lives at Virginia Wesleyan College," Ruehlmann writes. He believes it has done the same for many others. "The only way to repay that gift is to pass it on." Bill Ruehlmann joined the SCJ team in September as our new 2nd Vice President charged From the National Newspaper Association First Amendment Survives Attack The weekend of November 4 saw the demise of a potential threat to the freedom of the press when President Clinton vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Act. The Act included a provision that would have imposed criminal penalties for leaks of "properly classified" information. The provision contained an overly broad definition of what is considered classified information. It would have defined classified information as simply information that is "properly classified" or information "that the person knows or has reason to believe has been properly classified…" The proposed law would have also modified current law and eliminated the requirement that the government prove the leak compromised national security. According to the CIA, the provision was meant to close perceived gaps in the current law. It was drafted in reaction to recent high profile cases of disclosed classified information and to an overall feeling that there has been a "flood" of leaks recently. Clinton commented on the veto saying that the provision was "overbroad and may unnecessarily chill legitimate activities that are at the heart of a democracy." Opponents of the provision claimed the law could too easily have been used to target members of the media. Despite assurances by supporters that the provision would not be used to target the media, the provision contained no language that would have prohibited such activity during an investigation. Opponents said the new law would have chilled the media through increased subpoenas by investigators seeking media sources who leaked classified information. The government could then hide information of wrongdoing and abuse under the guise of secrecy. Supporters of anti-leak legislation promised that they will raise this issue next year. The National Newspaper Association will monitor the situation for any developments. The above article was reprinted with the permission of the National Newspaper Association. The first publication was in The Publishers' Auxiliary. For more information please contact Eric M. Kraske, assistant counsel at (703)907-7928 or eric@nna.org The following is a copy of a letter to all SCJ advisers. December 1, 2000 Dear SCJ Adviser, I am writing to ask for your help and that of the members of your chapter in recruiting new chapters for SCJ. Our journalism program started on a shoestring at Virginia Wesleyan College. We had no professional affiliation, and we were too small to qualify for full membership in most national associations. Then we discovered SCJ. SCJ gave us journalistic perspectives beyond the campus. It provided publications, opportunities for awards and - above all - encouragement. SCJ reminded us that the tradition of the organization and, indeed, the profession, is service, and it focused our sense of obligation. In answer to the SCJ call, our chapter has assisted grade school and high school publications, sponsored campus-wide professional speakers, provided a helping presence at campus functions and worked at making our own publications better. We have had fun, too, with SCJ trips and picnics and special programs. SCJ has made an important difference in our lives at Virginia Wesleyan College, and I believe it has done the same for the membership at your campus community. The only way to repay that gift is to pass it on. That's where your help is needed right now. If each current SCJ chapter will recruit one new chapter at a nearby college or university this semester, our membership will double; if you will recruit two, it will triple. We're asking you directly as SCJ adviser to undertake this project because advisers make up the backbone of our organization. But the student membership is the muscle and drive. Only your tandem dedication will ensure our survival and growth. Sincerely yours, Bill Ruehlmann, Ph.D. In the SCJ Spotlight: The following is a portion of a letter sent to Dr. Barlow. December 6, 2000 Dear Art, I enjoyed speaking with you at the ACP/CMA convention in Washington, D.C. I try to stay on top of what's happening with SCJ and attend our campus meetings. I'm pleased that Doug McAllister is our chapter adviser and there is growing enthusiasm and commitment to projects once again. I'm enclosing a photo showing some of our SCJ members by their work of art - the first prize winner in the campus wide castle-building contest. Instead of floats for Homecoming this year, campus organizations participated in the castle building using canned goods that were later donated to the local Low Income Ministry. SCJ members have also "adopted a lot" with other organizations to be responsible for picking up litter in an assigned area. It's not time consuming and definitely is a worthwhile project for maintaining campus beautification. At their holiday gathering, members are bringing a toy to be donated to a local agency for presentation to underprivileged children. The chapter is also responsible for our 35th annual Journalism Day. During my four years at Midland, we have averaged between 100-200 high school journalism students attending the day's sessions. Feedback from advisers is always positive. They like bringing their students to Midland because J-Day is one of the earliest at the beginning of the academic year. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. Sincerely, Dr. Joyce H. Winfield NOTES FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The time has arrived--finally--the new millennium, and our allout SCJ recruitment and retention campaign. Bill Ruehlmann notes the possibility of actually tripling the Society for Collegiate Journalists membership if we each recruit two new chapters. I have another take on that: R-n-R, Recruit one--Reactivate one, and let us assume you will retain your own; I do so loath moving known files from active status and eventually carrying the folder to a dented old filing cabinet: DEFUNCT. But, to better images: action. In January the National Office will take the initiative; we will assign you contacts: one to recruit; one to reactivate. We will look to geography, and we will provide you with briefing materials, "Starter Kits" and personal support. A key component is the road trip. Take the initiative, invite yourself, drive there, meet your peers: that's SCJ at its best. Are you aboard; let's set goals and meet them. Then next spring when you're a National Delegate to SCJ's biennial national convention in New York City you can be proud of your achievement, feel part of a national structure and enjoy the company, not of strangers, but of new friends and colleagues. Cordially, Arthur H. Barlow, Ph.D. Chapter Notes Muskingum College, OH - 9 new members Western Maryland College, MD - 2 new members Evangel University, MO - 2 new members The SCJ Reporter The SCJ newsletter is published once a month during the fall and spring semesters in accordance with the Clarion University of Pennsylvania academic calendar. It is created on a Tangent computer using Microsoft Publisher 2000. Editor: Mary Beth Curry Please send submissions to: Dr. Arthur Barlow © 2000
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