On April 1, Provost John Pauly, interim College of Arts & Sciences dean the Rev. Philip Rossi and political science department chair Barrett McCormick held a meeting with John McAdams, an associate professor of political science and independent blogger-journalist.
According to McAdams’ blog account of the meeting, Rossi, Pauly and McCormick found reason for concern in the way he blogged about student organizations, with Pauly suggesting he only commend student activities and not criticize them.
Despite McAdams’ rights as an independent journalist, Pauly replied in an e-mail to the Tribune that McAdams’ “ethical responsibilities as a professor toward all Marquette students ought to come first” and that “students’ lives and activities are not fodder for Professor McAdams’ blog.”
The issue of McAdams’ role as a faculty member versus his role as a blogger-journalist came to light at the final University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild Forum held March 31. There, a student asked Pauly about the perceived conflict.
Pauly responded by saying bloggers had to be clear in that role.
“The difficulty is the relationship between being an independent journalist and being a faculty member/employee of the university,” he said at the forum. “You have to manage the relationship between those two things.”
While the issue was addressed at the forum, it was not clearly answered.
Rossi, Pauly and McCormick should not condemn McAdams for voicing his opinion about student organizations in his blog.
According to McAdams, Rossi, Pauly and McCormick insisted that the “role of a professor trumps that of a faculty blogger.”
But as a journalist, McAdams is within his rights. Even though he is a faculty member of the university, McAdams’ right to freedom of speech and academic freedom negates Pauly’s reasoning against his independent blogging activity.
Also, only commending student activity provides a skewed view of student organizations, and is,
according to McAdams, biased journalism. We agree with him.
If university officials act on student input, such as when a recommendation by Marquette Student Government to extend benefits to domestic partners was implemented, then student organizations have much say in the administrative process and are worthy of careful scrutiny and, at times, criticism.
The cause for this meeting arose from two separate incidents. The first involved calling Anahi Sanchez, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences who helped organize this weekend’s performance of “The Vagina Monologues,” at her home regarding a blog post about the production. Apparently, Sanchez’s parents responded negatively to the phone call, resulting in them notifying university officials.
The second incident involved McAdams mentioning a student’s research paper in his blog; however, the student’s name was kept anonymous.
Although McAdams’ actions may be permissible, they are not necessarily commendable. Calling a student at home as a source for a blog entry may be an acceptable journalistic practice, but McAdams is also a professor and could have been more tactful. Even though Sanchez was listed as the Marquette contact on vday.org, she said her home phone number was not listed on the actual website. Sanchez feels McAdams “overstepped his boundaries” by calling her home.
Furthermore, according to Sanchez, McAdams failed to identify himself as a blogger-journalist when he called her. Certainly, it was unethical and deceptive of McAdams to not inform Sanchez about why he was requesting information from her.
Nevertheless, McAdams’ blog response states that, despite Rossi, Pauly and McCormick’s warnings, he “will continue to blog about activities on campus, and when the actions of student organizations have substantial news interest, we will report them. And we will be critical when appropriate.”
We think he’s well within his rights to do so. And, as a student organization, we support his right to criticize the Tribune and any other student group on campus.
Politically Correct Race Hustler • May 7, 2011 at 8:43 am
McAdams is a bully and incredibly closeminded. he uses his power to belittle students and other faculty. He even called arguably the best theology professor at the university a race baiter. He does not belong in society let alone the university. He is a disease eating away at the heart of MU.
You're missing the point • Apr 28, 2011 at 11:10 am
The point isn’t whether McAdams has the right to publish in his blog or not. He can publish whatever criticisms he wants until his face turns blue. The point is that the professor’s audacity and authority to step over lines in order to gain attention for his blog are ridiculous. McAdams is know for disrespecting boundaries and doing so to mess with people.
He is a privilidged man, intelligent, but oblivious to other’s perspectives. He has his own lense, and thinks it is the only correct one. Whomever doesn’t fit within his lens is left out, i.e. lgbt communities. This isn’t about his right to report, the university allows him that right. The issue is that he disrespected a student. He didn’t need to call home, he didn’t need to mention the Vagina Monologues to the student’s parents.
Class of 2008 • Apr 28, 2011 at 7:42 am
Professor McAdams protects the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, something few are willing to do in this age of political correctness. Marquette should applaud his courage to speak out. As a Catholic University, Marquette is a culturally conservative institution. That is not to say there is not room for other ideas, but the views that should prevail on campus and form the campus culture are those closely associated with the Catholic Church.