On Sunday, Ohio University accidentally did not prorate student flex meal plans to realize the fact that there are only two days of school this week. Students should have had only five “swipes” for the two-day week for a 14 flex-meal plan. When The Post learned about that mistake, we began reporting.
On Sunday, Ohio University accidentally did not prorate student flex meal plans to realize the fact that there are only two days of school this week. Students should have had only five “swipes” for the two-day week for a 14 flex-meal plan. When The Post learned about that mistake, we began reporting.
I wanted a photo from one of the markets that demonstrated them being short on food. OU did not say how much “extra” market merchandise was purchased, but we heard many shelves were barren. I observed this when I walked into Boyd Market on West Green at around 5:15 p.m. Monday.
Without identifying myself as a reporter, I began taking photos of the sign that read “you only have five swipes now” and the near-empty shelves. Unsurprisingly, a student employee asked me who I was taking pictures for. The second I said “The Post,” she reacted like she had seen a ghost.
Photographing an issue that affects students and their wallets apparently bewildered this Boyd Market employee. Or maybe it was Culinary Services’ policy that does not allow photography in any dining hall, market or other Culinary venue without approval from a division administrator. That same policy also keeps the more than 1,500 student employees of Culinary’s from speaking to the media without upper approval.
The student who initially stopped me went to her boss, a student who said he would get fired if he let me continue to take photos.
I told this student if The Post ran the photos, his boss should call me. After leaving my name and number, I left. Shortly after leaving, he called me. He had called his boss who said my actions could be considered trespassing — taking pictures of shelves in a market for students, operated with students fees, for a 100-plus-year-old student newspaper.
You can argue I was in the wrong for knowingly ignoring Culinary’s rule — which we had been reminded of earlier in the day — and heading toward the market with my camera in hand anyway.
But should I be threatened for taking pictures of food on West Green? Or made to feel guilty by someone who says he fears for his job because I took a picture without his boss’ approval? Should student workers be kept from talking to fellow students who are journalists, just because the latter happen to be reporters?
Keep in mind all of these policies are in place and strongly enforced at an institution that prides itself on the national reputation of its journalism school and liberal arts undergraduate education.
I hope this experience and these thoughts provoke at least some level of reevaluation of these policies from the university’s side of things. As a journalist, I never go looking for an opportunity to inject myself into the conversation. But when someone is shamelessly keeping me from doing the job my J-school professors are training me to do, I feel compelled to air my thoughts.
Will Drabold is the Campus Editor at The Post. Email him at dd195710@ohio.edu or find him on Twitter at @WillDrabold.
