Today the meningitis story continues on our campus. Late last night we received an email saying she passed away from bacterial meningitis. Today the school started secretly talking to people about the incident. As student press they did not allow our cameras or reporters into meetings held for students. They made us wait till 3 pm when the school held a press conference. The press conference provided no more answers into Loras’s thinking. As a private school, we as journalism students do not have the right of the first amendment like public schools. This has limited our coverage and forced us to turn our newscast into a giant PR release for the school. At the press conference I noted a number of lies, but I feel like I can not call out the school. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Since no press outlets have been able to tell a fair story because they have not been granted access to students, here are more pictures: 
Also at the meeting he (President Jim Collins) produced false statements about my program of study. He said, “We have a very good media studies program here at Loras and many of the students after seeing how the media has acted asked themselves if they should change majors.” Of course all of the press there looked over at me and I shook my head no, but what was I to do, I can not speak out against it. I believe the media is doing what they have to do. If the school reports nothing to the public about a student death the media still has to tell the story and the school is opening itself up for criticism by not being informative. They said “no students should feel in immediate danger”, but the case was meningitis, and that is a dangerous illness.
I am calling into question the press and the school and am trying to decipher their actions. Any thoughts?
Local Press Coverage:
Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Des Moines Register
KCRG TV 9
KWWL 7
KGAN 2
Filed under: Journalism | Tagged: ethics, Journalism, Meningitis, Student
I saw we push until Loras cuts the funding of the media programs here on campus!