The University Senate is now evaluating the contents of a letter, which suggested reconsidering the school’s relationship with The Daily Orange, that a Syracuse University spokesman sent to several university officials.

Since sending the letter on Wednesday, spokesman Kevin Morrow said he has not talked with anyone who received it, with the exception of Dean of Students Anastasia Urtz who informed him that it had been forwarded to the chairman of the University Senate agenda committee, Nahmin Horwitz, and committee member Craig Dudczak. Morrow added that what the committee will do with the letter is beyond his grasp.

“I have no say,” Morrow said. “It is up to the Senate agenda committee.”

In the letter, Morrow stated that The D.O. needed to be clearly defined as either a student group or a wholly independent entity from the university. Although much of The D.O.’s content is exemplary, it has not been responsible to its readership in many instances, he said.

Dudczak, a speech communications professor, said that he has not seen the letter but is planning on meeting with D.O. Editor in Chief Tito Bottitta and Managing Editor Ashleigh Graf as part of the subcommittee. The subcommittee can make a recommendation to the Senate and Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw.

Urtz, Student Affairs Vice President Barry Wells and Public Relations Associate Vice President Sandra Mulconry, who received the letter, could not be reached for comment. Shaw and Horwitz are on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

Bottitta, who met with Shaw about the issue Friday, said that although he was assured that there would be no action taken directly as a result of the letter, he is still troubled that the situation now involves USen.

“The thing that makes me uncomfortable is that the university is giving us a watchdog,” Bottitta said.

He added that the committee will be responsible for making a recommendation to Shaw that could have any number of consequences.

The message of the letter itself, however, is something that Morrow hopes has not been misinterpreted.

“I don’t want The Daily Orange to go away, I want The Daily Orange to get better,” he said. “I am not advocating censorship, I intend this letter to spark debate.”

Published on April 23, 2002 at 12:00 pm