The Observer, February 24, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 18
Local news report about Case example of irresponsible press
There are few public blows that institutions – such as our university – fear more than bad press. Sure, a couple well-dealt media jabs are apt to come from time to time, but WKYC Channel 3's report on the financial difficulties plaguing the university brought bad press to a new low.
The report touched on several points, beginning with the university's decision to pull some of the funds given University Circle Inc. and redistributing them within the university's own security force. It featured the commentary of a disgruntled University Circle community member, who was obviously troubled by the news. It then jumped to a discussion regarding recent investments made by the university, and flowed into interviews with several students about tuition increases.
A day after the report, the Internet link was forwarded hundreds of times all over campus. A week later, the 2006 Class Officers – knowing that Case students don't watch local news – took it upon themselves to send the link to everyone in their class, billing it as "what the Case Daily does not show you."
Anyone who watched the first thirty seconds of the report could give a logical reason for the avoidance of this topic on Case Daily: Channel 3's exposé epitomized the average Case student's disgust with local news. While some of the points were valid – such as students' annoyance with tuition hikes – the arguments were poorly strung together in a disorganized tangle of facts. Tuition accounts for less than 25 percent of the university's revenue and would therefore be an unreasonable place to start when easing financial pressure. Asking Case students for their opinion on tuition increases is sure to have only one outcome, so using these testimonials to support a story about budget issues was clearly a flawed idea from the start.
This is not to say that students shouldn't have an idea of what the rest of Cleveland sees. It is wise to know where we stand within this community. However, it is bad enough that those members of the surrounding communities who actually use local news as their source of information will have a skewed and inaccurate idea about the issues that truly plague this university. For the student body to take a poorly constructed "investigational" piece for face value only weakens the efforts of those who are trying to find the truth and make a difference.
There is much to be said for those who take the time to question the administration, who care enough about their university to do what it takes to expedite progress, and who exercise vigilance when it comes to learning about the inner workings of our school. Bad press is something that cannot be avoided, especially at a high-profile institution like Case, but irresponsible dissemination of inaccurate material can be prevented. Case students have the responsibility to seek the truth and question all the information funneled in our direction.
