Texas Student Publications

Board of Operating Trustees

March 1, 2002

Minutes

Voting members present: Sara Beechner, Craig Daniel, Dave Garlock, Don Heider, Michael Hoffman, Stephen Little, Natalie Mayrath, Senyo Tse, Amanda Zamora.

Voting members absent: Shawn Rosenzweig, Doug Toney.

Non-voting members present: Caroline Connor, Kristin Finan, Kathy Lawrence, Rosa Madriz, Marshall Maher.

Non-voting members absent: Meredith Best, Margarita Arellano, Matt Hammond, Trevor Rosen.

Professional staff present: Mary Felps, Richard Finnell, Evelyn Gardner, Jean Hogue, Dan Knight, Steve Metze, Douglas Plummer, Frank Serpas, Jerry Thompson.

Visitors present: Laura Cruzada, various student staff members.

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 p.m. by Craig Daniel, TSP Board president.

I. Report of the Executive Committee.

Garlock reported the executive committee had met earlier in the day and discussed the end-of-the-year student staff recognition program and the proposed 2002-03 budget.

A. End-of-the-Year Student Staff Recognition Program. Lawrence was assigned to present a plan for an end-of-the-year Student Staff Recognition Program at the next TSP Board meeting. Due to income shortfalls, the event will be “nice but inexpensive.”

B. Proposed Budget for 2002-03. To begin discussion of the 2002-03 proposed budget, Hogue briefly explained that the plan reflects a deficit and this deficit will be covered with funds from the TSP Reserve account. Further discussion reflected figures based on the facts listed below.

1. The budget includes a 2 percent increase in salaries for administrative and professional employees and a 3.25 percent increase for classified employees.

2. Also included in the proposal is a change from two full-time computer support employees to one full-time and one part-time employees.

3. Advertising rates are planned for a 5 percent increase.

4. No allocation for budget adjustment has been included above the 3.25 percent increase in classified salaries and benefits.

5. Hogue also noted there will be two less issues of The Daily Texan for the 2002-03 academic year which results in less income.

Hogue continued the discussion by answering questions about specific media entities. Hoffman questioned the need for increased travel expenses. Lawrence explained a vast majority of travel funds would be used to supplement event coverage such as out-of-town meetings of the Board of Regents and athletic events. A portion of travel is also included for student and professional travel to media conventions in order to keep personnel up to date with student media. Lawrence also indicated a portion of the travel budget covers expenses for circulation of The Daily Texan.

MOTION NO. 1: On behalf of the executive committee, Garlock moved to approve the 2002-03

TSP Budget proposal. The motion passed.

II. Approval of February 8, 2002, TSP Board Meeting Minutes.

MOTION NO. 2: Hoffman moved to approve the Minutes of the February 8, 2002, TSP Board meeting.

The motion passed.

III. Monthly Reports.

A. Report of the Director. Lawrence referred to her written report and had nothing further to offer.

B. Reports of Editors and Station Managers. Madriz announced KVRX will hold a pledge drive in April. Fastenau referred to her written report and added the Peregrinus faces a page deadline to Taylor Publishing Company in two weeks. She and her staff plan a book sales drive shortly after spring break. Maher and Finan expressed appreciation for the size of the Texan since the last TSP Board meeting. Connor referred to her written report and added the staff plans to carry the Spanish language Texas governor’s debate next week.

C. Report of the Minority Advisory Committee Chair. Zamora reported the workshop was successful and thanked everyone who helped her with the program. An informal survey indicated a lack of knowledge of KVR-TV and KVRX among UT students which has prompted the Office of Survey Research to plan a 10,000-person survey to be conducted by e-mail. Participants will be selected from a random sampling of the UT student body.

D. Report of the TSP Election Committee Chair. Hoffman reviewed the results of the election with the members of the Board.

MOTION NO. 3: On behalf of the TSP Election Committee, Hoffman moved to adopt the following

resolution:

Resolved, that the Board of Operating Trustees declares the following candidates elected:

(a) Jason Hunter, The Daily Texan Editor, June 1, 2002–May 31, 2003;

(b) Laura N. Cruzada, Board of Operating Trustees, College of Communication student voting member,

Place 1, June 1, 2002–May 31, 2003*;

Place 2, June 1, 2002–May 31, 2004;

(d) Brian Ferguson, Board of Operating Trustees, College of CommunicationB student voting member,

Place 3, June 1, 2002–May 31, 2004; and

(e) Jonathan C. Lee, Board of Operating Trustees, at-large student voting member, Place 4, June 1, 2002–

May 31, 2004.

* Filling the remaining year of an unexpired term.

B These individuals are not College of Communication students, but were approved as candidates for College of Communication student positions according to TSP Handbook, Chapter 1, Sec. B-6.

The motion passed.

E. Report of the TSP Handbook Revision Committee Chair. Hoffman explained it is the intention of the members of the committee to revise the entire TSP Handbook by the end of the spring semester. Assignments have been made to committee members and include: general organization, Hoffman and Daniel; The Daily Texan, Finan and Maher; Cactus Yearbook, Lawrence and Best; Peregrinus Law School Yearbook, Lawrence and Fastenau; KVRX, Beechner and Madriz; KVR-TV, Zamora and Connor; Texas Travesty, Finan and Rosen; election code, Hoffman; and appendix on history, Daniel. A final draft is expected by April 26.

VI. Newsroom Proposal on Prior Review.

Maher and Finan reviewed the written materials each had prepared for the members of the Board. Discussion followed.

MOTION NO. 4: Beechner moved for the current members of the TSP Board to express their support

for a review of the role of the editorial adviser of The Daily Texan during the revision process of the

TSP Handbook. The motion passed.

MOTION NO. 5: Hoffman moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed.