Hopefully, the ETSU student body is aghast at yet another failing of the Student Government Association to recognize one of the fundamental rights not only of this university or this state, but of this nation: freedom of the press.
Last week, the senate failed to pass a bill aptly tabbed the Student Rights’ Act by Sen. David Lane.
This bill would have required the SGA to keep all meetings open to the public, just as every other political body in Tennessee is required to do.
Part of the justification for this flat rejection of a “sunshine law” was that few people attend meetings. Indeed, it is rare that two or more people not directly involved with SGA are present.
However, there is always one person there. An East Tennessean reporter is at every meeting, whether there is a story or not.
Yet anyone familiar with the power of the press would recognize that this reporter stands for more than one person.
The mission, in part, of the press is to be a watchdog for concerns that affect readers when readers are unable to watch for themselves.
Therefore, it is inaccurate to dismiss a student’s interest or concern about government simply because he or she does not show for an SGA meeting. If that student picks up an East Tennessean and reads the front-page SGA story, the student becomes informed.
Sadly, this student, and thousands of others, are deprived of information that may be vital to them every time a governmental meeting closes.
When a journalist is turned away at the door, thousands are also kept out.
Indubitably, it does not reflect well upon government if they appear to have something they wish to hide from the very people they are purported to represent. This, however, is the very position in which SGA finds itself now.
Even one meeting closed is too many when you are a representative body responsible for students.

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