Pepperdine University - Promenade Yearbook (Malibu, CA)

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oasis and graphic editors Five journalism students were fired on Jan. 2 from their editorial positions on student publications by Dr. Steve Ames, director of student publications. The ejected editors were Patti Mazza, in-coming editor-in-chief of the Graphic. Kathy Barton, incoming managing editor of the Graphic; Karen Cotter, outgoing editor of the Graphic, Renate Steiner, out-going editor of Oasis, and Scott Grant, out-going managing editor of Oasis Ames cited insubordination as the main reason for the firings in a letter sent to each of the five students. Editors should be willing to follow the guidelines and directions from the faculty adviser in order that the publications meet the highest professional standards of responsible journalism, stated Ames in his letter. Ames had come to Pepperdine in the fall as the new director of student publications from Merced College, where he had served for seven years as a journalism instructor and faculty adviser for The Mercury, the weekly student newspaper. He replaced Dr. John Huffman, who resigned after a rift with administrators during 1977-78, later to take a position at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He (Ames) didn't know about our tradition, and didn't even bother to learn, said Cotter. They (the fired students) wouldn't accept change, because it was according to them, 'not the way we've done it in the past said Rich Taylor, who became editor-in-chief of the Graphic after the firings. But you can't live in the past. No matter what your record is. change will occur some day. The adviser said he first felt something was definitely wrong in early November, and sent a memo to the student publications staff on Nov. 13 offering academic affairs, to discuss the problems. Ames said he was unaware of the meeting until after it had been held. We (the fired editors) all talked to him (Ames) individually before going to Nicks, said Mazza. After the meeting with Nicks, the students met with Dr. Stewart Hudson, chairman of the communications division, and Ames to discuss their grievences. The purpose of the meeting was to find a common meeting point, to find a viable relationship, said Hudson. The meeting resulted in a drafting of Suggested Guidelines for the Director (l)Editor Rich Taylor jocks advise of Dr. Steve Ames. (2)Fired editors. Kathy Barton, Scott Grant and Patti Mazza, stand outside student publications office. 28 news

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(1).(2)8ccause of the tution hike, students face higher bills at registration in the fall. news 27

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fired for insubordination of Student Publications ' which listed such basic requirements as competence m grammar and style ' The only difference we had with Ames was competence, Grant said. I don't think a professor is a fountain of all knowldge; there is no sin in using a dictionary, said Ames. When I was in school, I thought I knew more than my professors too. Two months after the meeting with Hudson and Ames, the five editors received notices of their terminations without warning. Ames was legally justified in his ac- tions according to the Seaver College Faculty Handbook, which states while observing the ideals and purposes of a private Christian liberal arts university, the faculty member maintains the right of peacefully seeking revision of policy. The only complaint I had was the inability to work with them, said Ames. I feel there should be some equality, a team thing. A lot of what he said was true, but we tried and he couldn't help us, said Grant. Later Grant said in a letter to the Graphic that the newspaper as a vibrant reflection of student concerns, is endangered.' Mazza reflected this attitude more strongly, saying Ames has dug himself into a hole as far as the Graphic goes. Ames said that he enjoyed working with the new staff much more than with the fired editors. Before, I really didn't have a job here. They were in charge. I might as well have been at home in Thousand Oaks, watching the game shows. Now my job's exciting, he said. I can comment without being second-guessed. It's a good feeling. news 29