Texas Student Publications

Board of Operating Trustees

November 19, 2004

Minutes

Voting members present: Urton Anderson, Diane Beckham, Bill Cornwell, Kimberley Covert, Camden Gilman, Cale McDowell, Brian O’Reilly, Jef Richards, Rusty Todd, Brad Wright

Voting members absent: Daniel Parker.

Non-voting members present: Brandi Grissom, John Gross, Trisha Hanley, Ben Heath, Kathy Lawrence, Todd Nienkerk, Shelbie Stuart.

Non-voting members absent: Brandon Chicotsky, Sherri Sanders.

Professional staff present: A.J. Bauer, Robert Inks, Rebekah Johnson, Stacey Rives, Brian Tschoepe, Joan Whitaker.

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. by TSP Board President Cale McDowell.

I. Introduction of new professional staff member.

Lawrence introduced Wayne Roche, recently appointed advertising director of Texas Student Publications.

II. Approval of Minutes for September 24, 2004 meeting.

MOTION NO. 1: Beckham moved to approve the Minutes of the September

24, 2004, TSP Board meeting. The motion passed.

III. Report of the executive committee.

Todd said the executive committee met earlier in the day to discuss the monthly financial report, KVRX, TSP becoming a 5013C organization, the new Declaration of Trust, and the revised TSP Handbook.

MOTION NO. 2: On behalf of the executive committee, Todd moved to approve an amount not to exceed $35,000.00, to come from the TSP reserve account, to cover the costs of renovations to the TSP building in order to accommodate the move of KVRX radio into the TSP building. The motion passed.

MOTION NO. 3: On behalf of the executive committee, Todd moved for the Board to officially contact the University administration to request the approval of the new Declaration of Trust and the revised TSP Handbook be expedited. The motion passed.

MOTION NO. 4: On behalf of the executive committee, Todd moved approval for TSP to use non-UT attorneys if legal matters arise between The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Student Publications. The motion passed.

IV. Monthly reports.

Director. Lawrence referred to her written report and had nothing to add.

Texas Travesty. Nienkerk offered a correction to the written report supplied by Lawrence: Texas Travesty does not, at this time, have access to the internet. Lawrence responded her report referred to wireless internet. The final fall issue of Texas Travesty is finished and distribution has begun; 27,000 copies were printed. Within only four days, 1000 downloads from the on-line site were recorded.

Cactus Yearbook. Stuart reported her staff has completed 60 pages for the first deadline scheduled in December when 69 pages will be due to the printer. Organization page sales are complete: no-charge organization group pictures increased from 40 in the 2005 book to 80 for the 2006 book. Page sales, however, are down by two pages.

The Daily Texan. Grissom reported the re-design of the Texan is going well and almost complete. Heath reported election coverage and tuition coverage were excellent.

KVR-TV. Hanley reported the joint project between the Texan ad staff, KVRX, and KVR-TV was a huge success and resulted in a fashion special section for the newspaper and a fashion show to be aired on television. Further, she said the KVR-TV staff is working with the Texan advertising staff to develop new television sales materials.

KVRX. To his written report, Gross added there is a new extension on the web site for the Local Live show which offers listeners access to all past performances. As a result, hits and downloads on the site have increased substantially.

V. Student fee committee update.

Lawrence said presentations to the Student Services Fee Committee are complete and a decision on funding for 2005-2006 should be received by November 29.

VI. Appointment of The Daily Texan managing editor for spring 2005.

Lawrence said applications were received from Julie Ruff and Robert Inks. Ruff withdrew her application before the Board meeting convened. Inks addressed the members of the Board concerning his application and his plans for The Daily Texan.

MOTION NO. 5: Todd moved to appoint Robert Inks managing editor of The Daily Texan for the 2005 spring semester. The motion passed.

VII. Change in Advertising Acceptance Policy and Board status of student advertising director.

Lawrence referred to her written request. Following lengthy discussion, Richards made the following suggestion: based on the information in Lawrence’s request, the student advertising director position will carry the same status as the Texan managing editor position. Therefore, the managing editor and the student advertising director can consider advertising acceptability and if a decision cannot be made, the Texan editor will make the

final decision. This plan will work on an interim basis until a committee is formed and a final decision can be formulated concerning Board status of the student advertising manager and the Advertising Acceptance Policy.

McDowell formed a committee, to be composed of Richards, Cornwell, Inks, Tschoepe, and Lawrence, and instructed the members of the committee to further discuss these issues and to report back to the Board at the January meeting.

MOTION NO. 6: Hogue moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed.