By Two student groups are circulating a petition to recall Union Weekly Editor-in-Chief Kevin O’Brien after controversy erupted over an article about the Cal State Long Beach Pow Wow.
The American Indian Student Council and Justice and Gender Education, JAGed, are circulating the petition. This is the second petition to recall O’Brien during his time as editor of the weekly publication, which is funded by Associated Students Inc.
James Suazo, AISC publicity coordinator, said the petition had about 130 signatures on Tuesday. He said the petition stemmed from a lack of oversight and responsibility on O’Brien’s part in relation to two articles.
The first was a review that was critical of the 41st annual Pow Wow American Indian gathering. The second article, written last semester, was titled “How to Get Laid: A Girls’ Guide for Guys,” which some argued promoted sexual violence.
Noah Kelly, author of “Pow Wow Wow Yippee Yo Yippy Yay” and Union Weekly campus editor, apologized for the March 14 review shortly after its printing. Suazo says the AISC is still waiting for an apology from O’Brien.
“When we asked for an apology, he only said he would consider it,” Suazo said. “We have asked him in person and in writing.”
O’Brien said he does not regret printing the article.
“I don’t regret printing any student’s opinion,” he said.
AISC hopes to gather the necessary 500 signatures by Friday and present it to the Student Media Board during its 1 p.m. meeting in the Senate Chambers.
If the group received all the signatures needed, the petition would first need to be verified by the dean of students.
Signatures must be from currently enrolled students.
If the 500 signatures are from current students, the petition to recall will then be sent to the Student Media Board, where it would vote whether to remove the Union Weekly editor in chief.
The board’s decision would then go to the Board of Control for approval and then finally to the Senate for final approval, according to ASI Executive Director Richard Haller.
The Union Weekly’s last issue runs May 9 and O’Brien finishes his term as editor on May 31.
“I fervently believe that they will not remove me, just coming from an understanding of ASI,” O’Brien said. “The process it takes to remove me from EIC are extensive and I don’t believe he will get 500 valid petitioners.”
Despite the short time frame, Suazo believes AISC and JAGed will make the deadline.
“The whole act of the petition is symbolic,” Suazo said. “It shows that all of us need to own up to our actions.”
Members of JAGed and AISC publicly protested the articles outside of the ASI offices, as well as inside the chambers, during last week’s meeting.
Although Kelly apologized in front of the AISC and the group formally accepted, O’Brien stood by his decision.
He said the petition to recall him is positive and informs the school of the ongoing debate. O’Brien does not believe, however, that being recalled as editor in chief of the Union Weekly would “improve the Union or improve Cal State Long Beach.”
“I would say that there is a fundamental divergence in perspective between myself and those who organize this petition and that sign this petition,” O’Brien said. “I think that is perfectly fine. I think it’s a difference of opinion. While I have my detractors, I also have my supporters.”
The Union Weekly receives about $35,000 annually in subsidized funding from student fees.
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