Kenneth Niemeyer
University faculty and staff held a meeting in the Overby Center on Monday afternoon to discuss the draft of communication policy changes with university communication officials Jim Zook and Rod Guajardo.
No changes were made in the proposed policies after the meeting.
Most attendees of the meeting were faculty from the journalism school, but there were also representatives from the biology department, provost’s office and university Ombuds, along with other areas of campus.
Shortly before the meeting began, Cynthia Joyce, associate professor of journalism, asked the members of the meeting if anyone had a problem with asking a Daily Mississippian in the reporter to leave the room.
Joyce said that some people in the meeting might not feel comfortable about making comments with reporters in the room.
“We haven’t really gotten to have this conversation yet,” Joyce said.
None of the other members in the meeting objected, and the reporter was asked to leave the room.
Brice Noonan, associate professor of biology and faculty senate secretary, said that the faculty senate will meet with communications officials tonight to discuss their concerns over the proposed policy change.
Zook and Guajardo attended the faculty senate meeting on Feb. 11 to introduce a draft of the new policy to the senate.
Zook said that because he agreed to keep the meeting confidential, he would not comment on it.
Members of the faculty senate have voiced concerns about academic freedom and freedom of speech relating to the new policy, specifically about personal social media accounts and their availability to speak to the media.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
