Buzzsaw Staff and Alumni Call for Repeal of Ithaca College’s New Media Policy

Last week, Ithaca College President Tom Rochon issued a new media policy that requires that student media outlets seeking interviews with college administrators must submit all interview requests through the Ithaca College Office of Media Relations. The policy encompasses 84 administrators, including school deans, student services faculty, financial and admissions personnel, and – of course – President Rochon.

President Rochon informed the staff of Buzzsaw magazine – as well as the staffs at The Ithacan, WICB, and ICTV – about the terms of the new policy last week, stressing that it was not designed as a roadblock to students’ access to the college administration.

However, the Buzzsaw editorial board, Buzzsaw staffers, and Buzzsaw alumni firmly reject the notion that the new media policy “will not be a hindrance to [our] pursuit of information.” In fact, the policy seems to be specifically designed to hinder student journalists from accessing administrators in a timely manner and relaying information about the college to the student body.

As current students and alumni committed to truth, transparency, and critical examination of our surroundings, this new policy flies in the face of everything we are taught to practice as journalists. We are taught to pursue stories of interest to our college, city, and alumni communities. We are taught to respectfully and thoroughly investigate stories by speaking with a wide and diverse array of sources. And we are taught to criticize unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and attempts at censorship when we see them.

That’s why we are formally declaring our support for the repeal of the new media policy, joining a chorus of voices who have spoken out against the policy – including the Student Government Association, The Ithacan, over 60 Ithaca College staff and faculty members, and hundreds of Ithaca College students and alumni.

College policies should exist to strengthen – not limit – the academic learning environment. We ask the administration to recognize the dangers of this policy, rescind it, and push our college toward the open, transparent community that we know it can and should be.

Signed,

The Buzzsaw Magazine Editorial Board

Ithaca College Faculty and Staff

Buzzsaw Magazine Alumni

Buzzsaw Staff

Pete Blanchard
Jessica Corbett
Lauren Denecke
Gerald Doherty
Walker Dowd-Whipple
Sara Fitouri
Marissa Framarini
Bethany George
Michael Holland
Rob Hummel
Anna Isachenko
Crystal Kayiza
Drew Kellogg
Cassandra Leveille
Karen Muller
Ryan Muller
Meagan Murray
Amy Obarski
Marc Phillips
Jennifer Pike
Kyle Robertson
Nick Ruck
Jessica Santos
Abby Sophir
Kristen Tomkowid
Benjamin Viagas
John Vogan
Vicky Wolak
Kristy Zhen
Chris Zivalich

If you would like to stand in support of this statement as a non-Buzzsaw affiliated student, staff member, alumni or community member we encourage you to comment below with your name and reasons for co-signing this call for repeal.