DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Daily Iowan and Leona Durham controversy, 1970-1972 | 1970-11-21 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: "Iowan Faces Budget Cut, More Stringent Controls"

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Daily Iowan and Leona Durham controversy, 1970-1972

1970-11-21 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: "Iowan Faces Budget Cut, More Stringent Controls"

Iowa City Press-Citizen - Saturday, November 21, 1970 

Iowan Faces Budget Cut, More Stringent Controls

Daily Iowan Editor Leona Durham is facing a £3,000 cut in her editorial budget and more stringent controls on her operation of the controversial student newspaper. 
Student Publications, Inc. - a nine-member board of students and faculty - refused to accept the resignation of assistant publisher Mary Kauppi Friday, then approved Mrs. Kauppi's recommendation that Miss Durham first consult her before running "unusual" stories. 
The heated three-hour meeting saw Mrs. Kauppi and several board members attack the DI for mistakes, specific editorials and a poem published anonymously two weeks ago. 

Publisher Frank Hash submitted a report to the SPI board that showed a DI deficit of some $30,000 this year. He predicted the deficit would double by July 1 when the next staff assumes control. 
Hash painted a dismal financial picture for the Iowan which he claimed, has lost advertising from Iowa City businessmen who are outraged at the DI editorial stance. 
DI Advertising Manager Roy Dunsmore read letters from businesses attacking the DI for its leftist views and vowing to with hold advertising because of its editorial posture. 
One letter - from Redwood and Ross of 26 South Clinton Street - charged that the DI expresses "opinions that incite the reader" and said the editorial page "takes the appearance of an underground newspaper."
The men's clothing store said the DI "editorial page hurts our business."
A number of other letters were read, including one that referred to Miss Durham as "that communist editor"
Board member David Schoenbaum later referred to the letter writers as "boobs." he added that since the paper was not securing enough support from the business community, funding must be sought elsewhere. 
Schoenbaum's motion directing Chairman William Albrecht to seek money from the UI administration, the Student Senate or the Board of Regents passed unanimously. 
Albrecht appeared less concerned about the losses and angry advertisers. 
"It happens every year," he said. I don't think anyone is saying 'don't offend advertisers'"
However, Miss Durham's staff found consistent foes in Mrs. Kauppi, Schoenbaum and George Forell, another board member. 
Forelll charged the paper with "basic journalistic incompetence" and said the publication "does not meet the needs of students."
"I'd be glad to fire everybody," he exclaimed. 

But Mrs. Kauppi's statements represented the most detailed attack on DI editorial policies. 
She presented numerous graphs and charts showing the amount of local copy in the paper from issue to issue and cited numerous mistakes made by the student newspaper. 
"These goofs range from carelessness to irresponsibility to maliciousness to downright dangerous," she said. 
Mrs. Kauppi then presented her proposed changes for the assistant publisher position and announced her resignation. She later conceded that she might withdraw the resignation if her proposal were accepted. 
UI graduate student Carol Ehrlich, another board member, defended Miss Durham, saying she was "struck by the sameness of the complaints expressed every year." Mrs. Ehrlcih charged that there is "a particular attempt to hand this year's staff" with the slipups. 
Miss Durham declined to comment on Mrs. Kauppi's proposal until she had more time to examine it. The controversial editor asked the board if "this is an invitation for me to resign"
Albrecht denied the board was seeking her resignation.
Hash conceded that the pending $3,000 cut in the DI editorial budget would involve firing editors. 
Miss Durham said the board was thus asking for "better journalism" at a lower cost - goals she termed "contradictory" 
Other disputes centered around DI handling of letters to the editor, its coverage of local news and salaries paid, Hash and Mrs. Kauppi. Mrs. Kauppi asserted that  her $8,000 salary "is not the issue at stake."

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Iowa City Press-Citizen - Saturday, November 21, 1970 Iowan Faces Budget Cut, More Stringent Controls Daily Iowan Editor Leona Durham is facing a £3,000 cut in her editorial budget and more stringent controls on her operation of the controversial student newspaper. Student Publications, Inc. - a nine-member board of students and faculty - refused to accept the resignation of assistant publisher Mary Kauppi Friday, then approved Mrs. Kauppi's recommendation that Miss Durham first consult her before running "unusual" stories. The heated three-hour meeting saw Mrs. Kauppi and several board members attack the DI for mistakes, specific editorials and a poem published anonymously two weeks ago. Publisher Frank Hash submitted a report to the SPI board that showed a DI deficit of some $30,000 this year. He predicted the deficit would double by July 1 when the next staff assumes control. Hash painted a dismal financial picture for the Iowan which he claimed, has lost advertising from Iowa City businessmen who are outraged at the DI editorial stance. DI Advertising Manager Roy Dunsmore read letters from businesses attacking the DI for its leftist views and vowing to with hold advertising because of its editorial posture. One letter - from Redwood and Ross of 26 South Clinton Street - charged that the DI expresses "opinions that incite the reader" and said the editorial page "takes the appearance of an underground newspaper." The men's clothing store said the DI "editorial page hurts our business." A number of other letters were read, including one that referred to Miss Durham as "that communist editor" Board member David Schoenbaum later referred to the letter writers as "boobs." he added that since the paper was not securing enough support from the business community, funding must be sought elsewhere. Schoenbaum's motion directing Chairman William Albrecht to seek money from the UI administration, the Student Senate or the Board of Regents passed unanimously. Albrecht appeared less concerned about the losses and angry advertisers. "It happens every year," he said. I don't think anyone is saying 'don't offend advertisers'" However, Miss Durham's staff found consistent foes in Mrs. Kauppi, Schoenbaum and George Forell, another board member. Forelll charged the paper with "basic journalistic incompetence" and said the publication "does not meet the needs of students." "I'd be glad to fire everybody," he exclaimed. But Mrs. Kauppi's statements represented the most detailed attack on DI editorial policies. She presented numerous graphs and charts showing the amount of local copy in the paper from issue to issue and cited numerous mistakes made by the student newspaper. "These goofs range from carelessness to irresponsibility to maliciousness to downright dangerous," she said. Mrs. Kauppi then presented her proposed changes for the assistant publisher position and announced her resignation. She later conceded that she might withdraw the resignation if her proposal were accepted. UI graduate student Carol Ehrlich, another board member, defended Miss Durham, saying she was "struck by the sameness of the complaints expressed every year." Mrs. Ehrlcih charged that there is "a particular attempt to hand this year's staff" with the slipups. Miss Durham declined to comment on Mrs. Kauppi's proposal until she had more time to examine it. The controversial editor asked the board if "this is an invitation for me to resign" Albrecht denied the board was seeking her resignation. Hash conceded that the pending $3,000 cut in the DI editorial budget would involve firing editors. Miss Durham said the board was thus asking for "better journalism" at a lower cost - goals she termed "contradictory" Other disputes centered around DI handling of letters to the editor, its coverage of local news and salaries paid, Hash and Mrs. Kauppi. Mrs. Kauppi asserted that her $8,000 salary "is not the issue at stake."