Letter from Andrew C. Emmerich

“A longtime adviser to Saint Louis University’s student newspaper, The University News, may no longer enter the paper’s newsroom, university Provost Joe Weixlmann ordered Tuesday.
In a June 3 e-mail to Professor Avis Meyer, Weixlmann wrote he would ‘block your access to the newsroom’ if Meyer continued to assist the News within its facilities.”   http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1766
© 2008 Student Press Law Center
Tell me, when will this stop?  Why is a professor, tenured and respected in the community, who wishes to help a rather unsupported–and I include Jason Young (administration’s lap-dog) in that statement–student run newspaper such a threat?

Disagreeing with Jason Young “in front of student reporters and editors” is not only wonderful, but was actively encouraged by myself when I served as Op/Ed Editor of the News during the Fall of 2007.  Disagreements and differences in opinions are what fuel the Op/Ed section of the paper, and whether you, or Father Biondi wish to believe it, the final decision was always made by the Editorial Board–never Young or Meyer.

As long as Saint Louis University maintains its reign of terror upon free press, there will be no financial support coming from me, or many of the families I keep in contact with, for building a better SLU.  These brutish tactics must stop, for if they do not, you–and the rest of administration–will leave nothing but a legacy of pretty flowers and buildings and discontented graduates who have no desire to donate money to the University, now or in the future.

I truly do hope that SLU realizes the error of its ways and quickly drops any litigation against Dr. Meyer, ceases any investigation of his 30+ years of teaching, and leaves The University News to its own business (the business of reporting the unbiased news).  Perhaps, when these tasks are completed, I and many others, will be more willing to walk back into the fold of Saint Louis University…with our checkbooks open.

Until then, my best wishes,

Andrew C. Emmerich
The University News
Op/Ed Editor, 2007
Saint Louis University
College of Education and Public Service, 2008