After reviewing The Clarion since the beginning of the quarter, I have begun to wonder whether or not the newspaper is really succeeding in reporting on issues and events that affect DU students. This past week was Homecoming; yet nothing was written about Homecoming in any issue of the newspaper, not even the “Happenings” column. That is ridiculous.

Further, the editors of The Clarion have decided not to report on the activities of the AUSA Senate. I strongly disagree with this decision. There has yet to be a story written on what the Senate has been working on. It would seem logical to me that the student newspaper would want to report to the students what the student government is doing. After all, the Senate was elected by and is responsible to the students.

Perhaps the students would want to know that the Senate is working on separating the RTD fee from the student activity Fee and that certain members of the DU Administration responded “No,” in a condescending, and to some an insulting, manner, completely disregarding the role of the Senate.

Or perhaps, the students may want to know that the Senate has been working with other student groups and University staff to begin surveying the students concerning their desires for a DU mascot and working to change the mascot to reflect the desires of students, alumni, faculty, etc.

This survey has been held up by Institutional Assessment and less than a week before it was to begin, rejected by the senior aministration, without notice, once again without that decision being properly communicated. These are issues that affect students and I along with many other students expect The Clarion to report on the AUSA Senate on a regular basis.

So, what kind of grade would you give The Clarion so far this year?

I welcome any thoughts, concerns, or disagreements from The Clarion staff or any other student.

Sincerely,

Joel Portman

On-Campus Senator

See page 2 for the RTD story; see page 4 for AUSA Senate’s online initiative; see the Homecoming spread on 10-11.