Brown Out as MSU's Newspaper Advisor
Criticism of Administration Misappropriating Funds Cited As Reason For Removal
Ryan H. Marshall
Issue date: 7/2/09 Section: Campus Life
Updated on July 2, 2009@ 8:59 p.m.
In what many students, faculty, and staff say is a shocking turn of events, The Office of Student Activities (OSA), decided against renewing the contract of Spokesman Newspaper and Promethean Yearbook Advisor, Denise Brown.
According to the OSA, Brown would be replaced by Natasha Lewis, the OSA Assistant Coordinator. Lewis is a 2007 Morgan Graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations. She will serve as Interim Advisor - beginning on July 1st, along with continuing her duties as OSA Assistant Coordinator.
Floyd Taliaferro, University Student Center Activities Director, would not confirm or deny that Lewis was the person replacing Brown. Taliaferro is the person that ultimately made the decision, to not renew Brown's contract.
Brown graduated from Morgan with a Bachelors in English (Journalism concentration). From there, she came to the Spokesman, in the fall of 2002, as a Business Manager.
She then became an Assistant Advisor in April of 2003 - becoming a yearly contractual employee. Her duties as Advisor started in 2005, after English Department Professor Frank Dexter Brown decided to step down as Advisor. She had been in that position, to both student organizations, since that time.
She helped to launch the Spokesman Insider Television News Show, and Spokesman Speaks Radio News Show. In 2008, she became the MSU Television and WMUR Radio Advisor, in the Communications Studies Department.
She gained great respect from industry professionals, around the country, for single-handedly organizing the 10th Annual HBCU Media Conference, in 2008 (formerly called the HBCU National Newspaper Conference) - the first year the conference joined all forms of media together.
Denise Brown is obviously not happy and is calling this a wrongful termination.
"The suddenness of the non-renewal of the contract suggests that they were unhappy with me and never spoke with me. I feel that due process has not been served," says noticeably irritated Brown, during a phone interview.
In what many students, faculty, and staff say is a shocking turn of events, The Office of Student Activities (OSA), decided against renewing the contract of Spokesman Newspaper and Promethean Yearbook Advisor, Denise Brown.
According to the OSA, Brown would be replaced by Natasha Lewis, the OSA Assistant Coordinator. Lewis is a 2007 Morgan Graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Public Relations. She will serve as Interim Advisor - beginning on July 1st, along with continuing her duties as OSA Assistant Coordinator.
Floyd Taliaferro, University Student Center Activities Director, would not confirm or deny that Lewis was the person replacing Brown. Taliaferro is the person that ultimately made the decision, to not renew Brown's contract.
Brown graduated from Morgan with a Bachelors in English (Journalism concentration). From there, she came to the Spokesman, in the fall of 2002, as a Business Manager.
She then became an Assistant Advisor in April of 2003 - becoming a yearly contractual employee. Her duties as Advisor started in 2005, after English Department Professor Frank Dexter Brown decided to step down as Advisor. She had been in that position, to both student organizations, since that time.
She helped to launch the Spokesman Insider Television News Show, and Spokesman Speaks Radio News Show. In 2008, she became the MSU Television and WMUR Radio Advisor, in the Communications Studies Department.
She gained great respect from industry professionals, around the country, for single-handedly organizing the 10th Annual HBCU Media Conference, in 2008 (formerly called the HBCU National Newspaper Conference) - the first year the conference joined all forms of media together.
Denise Brown is obviously not happy and is calling this a wrongful termination.
"The suddenness of the non-renewal of the contract suggests that they were unhappy with me and never spoke with me. I feel that due process has not been served," says noticeably irritated Brown, during a phone interview.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 21
Gaynelle Lewis-Fleming, B.A. English, 1974
posted 7/03/09 @ 12:13 PM EST
It is clear that the article "Brown Out" by Ryan H.
Marshll omits many perspectives and events that lead
to the non-renewal of Ms. Brown's contract. (Continued…)
Tellknozwho
Tiye017
posted 7/03/09 @ 6:48 PM EST
I passionately feel that the refusal the renew Ms. brown's contract is outrageous. Ms. Brown has worked hard with the pupils at Morgan State vigorously for many years. (Continued…)
Kiianah
posted 7/05/09 @ 11:59 AM EST
I have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Brown on the Spokesman and I an say that she has dedicated many long hours, sweat and tears to what she has been so passionate about. (Continued…)
Thomas Paine
posted 7/07/09 @ 6:18 PM EST
Since the original poster has obviously decided to disguise her name and true affiliation. I will do the same, so that I can ask a few questions. First, the Spokesman is a student run publication, and the act of dismissing Ms. (Continued…)
MSingletonJr
posted 7/08/09 @ 3:22 PM EST
Sister Lewis-Flemming,
Your comment on the Article titled "Gates Becoming A Problem? Are the gates causing more bad than good?" prove that you care about the student paper and its content. (Continued…)
MSingletonJr
posted 7/08/09 @ 3:25 PM EST
Sister Lewis-Flemming,
As I re-read the last post, it seems that my passion for the subject got in the way of RESPECT.
Please forgive me.
~Best
MS Jr. (Continued…)
HBCU alum
posted 7/08/09 @ 6:00 PM EST
The main concern should be whether the students are learning to practice journalism. Is anyone working with the writers to help them communicate effectively? The articles that were mentioned were, for the most part, incomprehensible. (Continued…)
Thomas Paine
posted 7/21/09 @ 4:35 PM EST
As a media and journalism professional for more than a decade, it is clear that the HBCU alum does not the difference between an opinion piece and a news story. (Continued…)
Thomas Paine
posted 7/21/09 @ 4:38 PM EST
I am very concerned about Ms.Corbutt's role in this sorid affair. She appears to have been the hammer in this situation because one story was about her, and the Administration seems to be a little thin skinned in protecting her. (Continued…)
Thomas Paine
posted 7/21/09 @ 4:42 PM EST
Obviously, it was anticipated that the Spokesman advisor could be fired by an unscrupulous administrator, and this is why the language in the Morgan Students' Bill of Rights is specific about freedom of the press for students and their advisors because it was very foreseeable that the students and the Administration would have serious differences that could become legal ones. (Continued…)
Post a Comment