The Washington State University Board of Student Media operates under a set of established policies designed to protect the editorial independence of student publications and define the governance structure for campus media. These regulations, which have been in place since 1998, mandate that student editors remain free from university censorship and administrative interference regarding news coverage and content.
Constitutional Protections and Editorial Freedom
Under the university's Statement of Policies, students at Washington State University possess the right to speak, write, and publish their sentiments on all subjects without advance review or approval. This protection is rooted in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The university is prohibited from implementing any rule or policy that abridges the freedom of speech or the press for its students.
Prohibitions on Censorship and Sanctions
To safeguard these freedoms, Washington State University prohibits university officials from requiring student or professional staff to submit materials for prior review. Furthermore, the university is barred from imposing sanctions against student or Student Media professional staff members based on the content of any publication. University officials, including faculty and staff, are also prohibited from directly or indirectly compelling or prohibiting speech based on expressed views, and they may not deny funding based on the content of student publications.
Exceptions and Legal Responsibility
While student editors and managers are generally free to develop their own editorial policies regarding news coverage and content without interference from administrators or faculty, exceptions exist for specific collaborative marketing publications. These excepted products are those explicitly created to provide students with experience and education in strategic communication and marketing. However, students working within Student Media bear the legal responsibility for all material they speak, write, or publish.
Governance and Board Authority
The Board of Student Media serves as a forum for students, faculty, and staff to help direct the operational policies of The Daily Evergreen. The board holds several key powers, including the authority to monitor all media and departments, develop and implement governance policies, and act as a liaison between Student Media and the campus community. Additionally, the board is responsible for approving annual budgets and capital investments, and it has the power to establish, consolidate, or discontinue any publication under its control.
Board Membership and Structure
The Board's membership consists of 17 voting members and the director of Student Media. The voting membership is structured to include ten student members, two faculty or staff members, and five at-large members. Student members include two students selected by the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU), two from the graduate classes, and student managers from The Daily Evergreen. Graduate students serve two-year terms, while other student members serve staggered three-year terms or until they are no longer students at the university.
Director Responsibilities and Fiscal Oversight
The Director of Student Media is delegated specific responsibilities, including serving as the principal fiscal officer and administering day-to-day operations. The director is tasked with managing business and budget affairs for employees, evaluating and hiring professional staff, and maintaining financial records to report regularly to the board. The director must also prepare and update an annual long-range plan for the systematic growth of Student Media and an operating budget for the fiscal year, which is subject to board approval.
Staff Training and Emergency Procedures
Professional staff members within Student Media have a threefold responsibility: to oversee and protect the financial viability of the organization, to facilitate student expression and participation, and to organize training in relevant fields such as journalism, advertising, design, marketing, social media, video, audio, and other communication models. The board also maintains procedures for emergency meetings, which can be called by any board member or by 15 members of the campus community through a written petition to the director.
