Texas Student Publications

Board of Operating Trustees

July 8, 2005

Minutes

Voting members present: Urton Anderson, Camden Gilman, Jenna Harner, Jef Richards, Rob Russell, Rusty Todd.

Voting members absent: Diane Beckham, Bill Cornwell, Brian Ferguson, Bill Laird, Brad Wright.

Non-voting members present: A.J. Bauer, Kristin Hillery, Clint Johnson, Kathy Lawrence.

Non-voting members absent: Will Blair, Brandon Chicotsky, Kimberly Chung, Michelle Putman, Sherri Sanders.

Professional staff present: Mary Felps, Richard Finnell, John Foxworth, Merry Tillman, Frank Serpas, Jack Simons, Jerry Thompson.

Visitors present: Tessa Moll, Jonathan York, various TSP student staff members.

In the absence of a president, Vice President Camden Gilman called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

I. Executive committee report.

The executive committee met earlier in the day and conducted a performance appraisal for the director of TSP.

II. Appointment of The Daily Texan managing editor for fall 2005.

Gilman reported Jonathan York and Tessa Moll submitted applications for managing editor of The Daily Texan for the 2005 fall semester. It was noted that York had not completed the media law course, a requirement for the position.

Moll left the meeting room and York addressed the members of the Board concerning his application and his plans for the fall issues of The Daily Texan. York left the meeting room and Moll addressed the members of the Board concerning her application and her plans for the fall issues of The Daily Texan.

Gilman briefly adjourned the general meeting in order to conduct an executive session of the Board. Later, Gilman re-convened the general meeting.

MOTION NO. 1: Anderson moved to appoint Tessa Moll managing editor of The Daily Texan for the 2005 fall semester. The motion passed.

III. Statement on prior review.

Lawrence referred to her written request that the members of the Board consider action concerning the following two areas: [1] reaffirm the Board is committed to upholding the rights of student editors to control content of student media, and [2] urge the UT administration to take appropriate steps to eliminate all vestiges of prior review from The Daily Texan.

Lengthy discussion followed, including an amendment to the Lawrence document by Bauer. Further discussion followed.

MOTION NO. 2: Bauer moved to approve the document submitted by Lawrence

to include his amendments. The motion failed with one vote in favor of the motion and five votes against the motion.

MOTION NO. 3: Bauer moved to approve the document submitted by Lawrence. The motion passed with four votes in favor of the motion, one vote against the motion, and one abstention.

MOTION NO. 4: Todd moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed.