Communications Board debates restructuring
Vote on initiative delayed, further discussion needed
By John Digrado
Daily Bruin Staff
Communications Board members met on Tuesday night to continue
restructuring discussions, as well as to address issues regarding
the circulation of the seven campus newsmagazines.
Though the board had originally proposed to vote on the
restructuring initiative sometime this month, members decided to
postpone that motion until further notice. Instead, members
continued talks regarding the various possibilities facing the
board’s restructuring.
"We pushed it back to give everyone the opportunity to look at
(the plan) again," said Communications Board Chair Deanna
Cherry.
Originally intended to create a more self-sufficient board, the
proposed restructuring plan calls into question the roles of
student representatives, advisory committees and the role of the
board itself.
"Tonight is the beginning of looking at where we want to go,
what we want to change as a body," Cherry said. "Given what we know
about ourselves, we need to look at where we are going as a
body."
Administrators and board members expressed their concern for
keeping student government involved throughout the restructuring
process.
"(The plan) should have student support and involvement in it,"
said Administrative Representative Alan Hansen. "(The
administration) is very complementary of the progressive thinking
of the options and the possibilities of the board."
While the original plan intended to cut student representation
on the board in half while increasing outside influence, no numbers
are set in stone as of yet, Cherry said.
"We need to increase the productivity of the eight (current)
student members," she added. "We have to look at the pros and cons
of each number. We can keep eight (students on the board). No one
is connected to decreasing student representation."
Also considered was a self-evaluation of the finer points of the
Communications Board as it stands. Issues discussed ranged from
minor communication breakdowns among members to reasons why the
board exists in the first place.
"We don’t have a sense of what we are supposed to be doing,"
said Board member Maya Yazigi. "It’s chaotic in a sense because
things come up sometimes," and board members may not fully
understand all facets of an issue.
Appointments of board members were also challenged, with some
members concerned that procedures may be politically motivated.
"Now the members are appointed by student government," said
Board member Quan Doan. "The way I feel, (members) should be
appointed by the Communications Board itself. Some members are
placed here politically. I’m suggesting to disconnect USAC or GSA
from the appointment of board members."
Members suggested their own visions for the future of the
Communications Board, reiterating their mission to support students
in all forms of Student Media as well as to become better informed
with the issues that face the media daily.
"We don’t have members that have a strong background or strong
interest in Student Media," Doan said.
Though discussion centered around the Communications Board
itself, no final decision regarding the future of the board was
made. Should a proposal satisfying all parties interested be
created, the board would not vote on the plan until all options
were explored.
Other issues facing the board included considering a request
from the seven campus newsmagazines to increase their advertising
content from 25 percent of the total publication to 35 percent.
Currently, the newsmagazines rely heavily on revenue from
Student Media to cover their operating costs. Increasing the number
of advertisements the publication is allowed to run would be
followed by a rise in ad revenue and a possible increase in
circulation, a move that would make the publications more
autonomous within Student Media.
"For the business end of the publications, if they make more,
they do more," Ward said. "We’re starting to turn the corner on
newsmagazine (advertising) sales, and they’re on the verge of
substantially supporting themselves."
The change in advertising content is scheduled to occur shortly,
but no final resolution was made. Instead, Board members voted to
allow the publications to sell more advertisements for three
months.Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu