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April 27, 2012
Maneater awards two $1,000 scholarships
Sports editor Nate Atkins and staff member Lizzie Johnson were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship by The Maneater scholarship committee. This was the first time the committee awarded two scholarships in a single year. The scholarship amount was also increased from $500 to $1,000 each.
According to a scholarship committee news release, the committee decided to increase the scholarship fund because of the "record-breaking" number of applicants. The committee also decided Atkins and Johnson both deserved the scholarship.
A sophomore and two-year Maneater staff member, Atkins has published over 60 stories of his own during this academic year and has published over 100 stories at The Maneater total. Atkins also placed first in the Division-I sports writing category at the Missouri College Media Association Conference this semester.
Scholarship committee member and former Maneater managing editor Derek Kravitz said Atkins is one of the hardest working staff members the committee has seen.
"His love of the newspaper is clear in everything he does: Nate helped organize the paper's coverage of the recovery efforts following the deadly tornado last May in Joplin. He spent two months writing a superb profile of an injured Missouri football player, which bigger competitors took immediate notice of," Kravitz said in a news release. "Nate Simply understands the importance of The Maneater's 57-year history and he embodies the best, selfless attributes of its hardworking staff."
Freshman staff member Johnson has also published over 60 stories during her first year at The Maneater. Johnson started writing for The Maneater in August 2011 and currently holds a copy editor position.
In her scholarship essay, Johnson wrote that she could not imagine going a day without working at The Maneater.
Scholarship committee member Barb Burlison said in a news release that Johnson picks up a project and makes sure the finished product is "polished and outstanding."
Kravitz also said Johnson is a "rising star" at The Maneater.
“Lizzie is an incredible asset to the newspaper and college journalism, and The Maneater will be in good hands with excellent journalists like her,” he said.
The Maneater scholarship program was created in 2008 and has previously awarded four $500 scholarships to Maneater staff members. The awarded amounts were increased due to donations from Maneater alumni. All editorial and business staff members of The Maneater are eligible to apply.
April 21, 2012
The Maneater Fall 2012 Editorial Board
Congratulations to the Fall 2012 Maneater editorial board! The hiring process was difficult again this year. We had many qualified candidates, and we thank everyone who applied. The new editorial board will begin training immediately and will take over full responsibilities beginning with the May 4 issue.
Editor-in-Chief — Kelly Olejnik
Managing Editor — Pat Iversen
Copy Chief — Katie Yaeger
Copy Chief — Tony Puricelli
Production Manager — Cassie Kibens
Photography Editor — Nick Ehrhard
University News — Hunter Woodall
Student Organizations — Elise Moser
City, State, and Nation — Matt Flores
Crime — Kelsey Maffett
Projects — Celia Ampel
MOVE — Delia Cai
Forum — Molly Duffy
Arts & Entertainment — Sara Driscoll
Sports — Seth Boster
Online Development — Ted Noelker
Assistant Editor — Caroline Bauman
Assistant Editor — Ciera Velarde
April 17, 2012
The Maneater takes second place in best overall paper at MCMA
Universities from the state of Missouri took home awards Saturday at the Missouri College Media Association conference. Our staff competed against schools like Washington University, UM—St. Louis, UM—Kansas City, St. Louis University and others. The Maneater took home a total of 23 awards.
Congratulations to our winners:
Best Overall Newspaper, 2nd Place: The Maneater
Overall Sweepstakes, 2nd Place: The Maneater
Editorial Writing, honorable mention: The Maneater for "Rivalry's death a fault of kU"
Special Section, 1st Place: The Maneater for the 100th Homecoming wraparound
Special Section, honorable mention: The Maneater for the FYI Guide
In-Depth Reporting, 1st Place: Caroline Bauman for "Columbia resident saves money, teaches classes about extreme couponing"
In-Depth Reporting, 2nd Place: Abby Spudich for "College weight management a multi-step process"
In-Depth Reporting, honorable mention: Anthony Barranco and Lindsey Davison for "Women still unequal in sports despite Title IX attempts"
Sports Writing, 1st Place: Nate Atkins for "Learning to Fall: Elvis Fisher's walk from disaster to recovery"
Regular Column, honorable mention: Sheela Lal for "Self-segregation builds walls"
News Photography, 1st Place: Grant Hindsley for "Snowed in: Deaton calls snow day for first time since 2006"
News Photography, 3rd Place: Grant Hindsley for "Service celebrates life of lynching victim James T. Scott"
Feature Photograohy, 1st Place: Peter Yankowsky for "Magic Tree lights up Columbia for 17th year"
Sports Photography, 2nd Place: Sam Gause for "Nebraska upsets missouri wrestling squad"
Feature Page, 1st Place: Ashley Lane for Border War feature "Thanks for the Memories"
Photo Page, 1st Place: Sarah Hoffman and Ashley Lane for the Joplin feature
Information Graphic, 2nd place: Casey Purcella for "Breaks are high time for crime on campus"
Information Graphic, 3rd Place: Ashley Lane for War on Drugs feature
Information Graphic, honorable mention: Casey Purcella for "City Council to vote on ward reapportionment"
Editorial Cartoon, 1st Place: Rylan Batten for "Gaddafi"
Website, 3rd Place: Aimee LaPlant for themaneater.com
Multimedia, 1st Place: Grant Hindsley for "Facing the Flood"
Multimedia, 3rd Place: Grant Hindsley for "Balloons"
April 11, 2012
Letter from the editors: moving forward
Dear readers,
Last week we, student organizations editor Kelly Olejnik and former sports editor Pat Iversen, were elected by The Maneater staff as editor-in-chief and managing editor for the 2012-2013 academic year. In light of the resignation of executive editors Travis Cornejo and Abby Spudich, we will be stepping up into our positions immediately.
The paper is taking responsibility for the April Fool's issue. We have been taking an active role in moving forward. We've reached out to and have been meeting with MU student leaders and MU faculty to move in a positive direction effectively and efficiently. We have submitted a request for Safe Space training for The Maneater staff on Friday, April 27 and plan on submitting a request for the staff during both fall and spring semesters of the 2012-2013 academic year. We will also be scheduling Diversity Peer Educators to train our staff next year as well. It's our intention to be very transparent with our readers about what our staff is learning from these events.
As an executive team we plan on continuing the communication between faculty, students and readers we have begun in the past week and a half.
We understand there are varying accounts about the circumstances leading up to and following the publishing of our April 3 issue. The Maneater editorial board is meeting tonight to collectively draft a statement, which will include our goals moving forward.
We only ask for patience from our readers. We understand this process has been long and not as transparent as it should have been. Our goal as executives and as a staff is to be as forthcoming as possible with the people who care about our paper, and that begins tonight.
The paper is in the hands of a very capable editorial board and will continue with its normal production dates.
Thank you and we look forward to being a part of another year of The Maneater's future,
Kelly Olejnik and Pat Iversen
Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor
Apology and letter of resignation
Effective 12 p.m. Wednesday, I'm stepping down as editor-in-chief of The Maneater.
First, I'd like to clarify something: As per tradition, I took no part in the planning of the April Fool's edition. This edition of The Maneater has historically been put together by the editorial staff, as a sort of surprise for the editor-in-chief. I decided to follow through with that tradition. Although I knew to expect the April Fool's issue, I was unaware of the content.
I am not wholly without blame, however. Early in the production of the regular Maneater issue, it was brought to my attention that we had half a page of ads that didn't fit inside the regular issue. I did suggest and authorize the placement of ads directly inside the April Fool's wraparound.
I realize I've been fairly silent in regards to our April Fool's issue. I suppose now is the time to explain why.
It's something I've been struggling with this past week. I felt Abby Spudich's letter was clear in that hers were the final eyes on the issue before it went to print. I felt that writing a statement, where I publicly distance myself from the matter, would be distasteful. Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do as editor-in-chief, but as a friend, I didn't think releasing such a statement would be appropriate. I didn't want to take part in the finger pointing toward Abby.
My approach toward this situation has been fundamentally different than what my editorial board wanted and expected of me.
Abby has handled this situation with great poise and professionalism, owning up to and taking full responsibility for her mistakes, and I admire her for that. I fully supported the steps outlined in her apology letter for working to improve relations within the community and as such decided to take a backseat in discussing the April Fool's issue with the media.
I apologize if my lack of response came across as an apathetic attitude toward the matter of our April Fool's edition and for my actions in regard to the placement of advertisements inside the issue.
I'm sad that my time at The Maneater is ending sooner than expected. I am truly grateful for the three years I've spent here, the friendships I've built and the content I've helped produce.
Thank you.
Travis Cornejo
April 10, 2012
A letter of resignation
After much deliberation, I've decided to step down from my position as managing editor of The Maneater.
My initial response to the controversy surrounding the April Fool's edition of the paper was to stay on through the final weeks of the semester and, through my leadership role, try to be proactive in the community through the actions discussed in my apology letter.
However, the reaction to this wasn't what I expected. In light of this, I have decided resignation is the best option.
I regret deeply the harm I have caused through the publication of the April Fool's edition; this was never my intention. As an individual, I still plan on engaging with the diversity programs and resources available on campus to continue my own growth as a journalist and as a human being.
I owe so much to The Maneater. From the day I walked in the door to the day I walked out, I never stopped learning. Working under past editors as a writer and, later, working with new writers as an editor has taught me so much as a journalist and as a person. I've learned everything from small things, like writing in AP style, to bigger lessons, like upholding my integrity through conflicts and mistakes. I can't imagine how my time at MU would be without the experiences I've had and the relationships I've built through working at this paper.
Leaving The Maneater breaks my heart, but I feel it's what's best for the paper. I hope in my absence The Maneater can work to rebuild its reputation in the community and continue to prosper.
Abby Spudich
April 6, 2012
Letter from the editor
Correction appended
The Maneater committed a grievous error in judgement regarding the content of the April Fool’s edition published Tuesday. I take responsibility for that error. This edition of The Maneater was incredibly offensive and potentially damaging to the social climate at MU, and I want to take this opportunity to express our sincere apologies.
Before I get to the bulk of my apology, I want to say that next year’s executive editors, Kelly Olejnik and Pat Iversen, have decided to cancel next year’s April Fool’s edition, and this has received the full support of the current editorial board. This isn’t the first time our April Fool’s content has been upsetting for the MU community, and we’ve decided that it’s not worth offending members of our community for an attempt at a few laughs. We hold our readers, advertisers and sources in high regard, and we don’t want this to overshadow the journalistic work we do throughout the year. By definition, this edition was supposed to step outside our usual role, but we took it way too far.
Although many parts of this edition were vulgar and offensive, I want to first take the time to explain the masthead. I truly did not know that “carpet eater” is a derogatory term used for a lesbian. Had I known, I would never have even considered using it. I chose the masthead because I thought the pairing of the play on words of “The Maneater” with the sexual innuendo of that term could be funny. I realized there was a sexual connotation in this term, but I did not realize it was derogatory toward the LGBTQ community. Not knowing is not an excuse, however, and I’m sure that if I had brought this to every member of the 24-person editorial board, and made sure that every single person had read it, someone would have known this was a slur. Unfortunately, I did not do this, and my ignorance has harmed other people. I could not be more sorry about this. I’d also like to note that the negative connotation that masthead carries does not reflect the opinion of the editorial board.
Other derogatory words toward women were also printed in this edition, such as “cunt,” “slut” and “whore.” This was a massive oversight on our part. I allowed these to be printed because my thinking was that, as they were used in a satirical way and mostly as plays on words, the context in which they were used did not speak to women and the treatment of women. My poorly thought out rationale, which I realize now was wrong and potentially dangerous, was that since they were not used in a way that glorifies the mistreatment or objectification of women, they were not offensive. I realize now that these words in and of themselves can contribute to further prejudice, no matter the context. In addition to offending people on a personal level, the April Fool’s issue could detract from the work campus organizations and individuals have done to create a more inclusive campus. These words communicate beliefs that neither The Maneater editorial board nor I believe. Language and context is a false dichotomy, and the language in this edition was not at all acceptable.
The biggest failure on our part is that this edition has spread negativity and hurt toward marginalized groups. A second major failure is that this edition is contradictory to The Maneater’s point of view toward diversity issues. In our editorial pages, we’ve advocated for updating the M-Book’s nondiscrimination policy to include gender expression (see “Editorial: M-Book update more than necessary”), updating the FBI’s definition of rape (see: “Editorial: Tell the FBI rape is rape”) and being active in preventing relationship violence (see: “Editorial: Don’t repeat Topeka, be proactive in preventing relationship violence”), to name a few. These are the sincere opinions of The Maneater, not what you read in Tuesday’s April Fool’s edition. It’s a shame that my twisted logic and oversight has undone so much of the progress this publication has made toward supporting the diversity at MU. I am extremely apologetic about this.
This was a huge learning experience for me, and I think for many of our editors. Even though I regret what happened, this is a learning paper. I learned I cannot assume what others might find to be offensive based solely on my own background, as my own personal background isn’t good enough, and ignorance is not an excuse when using offensive language. There are so many quality resources on campus that I, and the rest of the student body, can take advantage of when it comes to learning about diversity issues. Neglecting these resources is not just a personal failure; it’s a failure to my publication and my community.
This isn’t any less offensive just because it provided a learning experience to a group of people. However, this is an opportunity to better this publication and make sure no harmful incidents like this ever happen again. As per the suggestion of many of our readers, The Maneater is seeking training from the Language and Creating Safer Spaces program offered by the Women’s Center as well as Safe Space training offered LGBTQ Resource center. We are open to other suggestions in educating ourselves as well. We would also like to host an open forum to talk about the effects of derogatory terms on society, which was another suggestion from members of the MU community. We will set a date for that and announce it shortly.
I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize to any individuals, advertisers, groups and readers who were offended by the content in the April Fool’s edition. I could not be more sorry or regret this any more than I already do. The Maneater is open to any other suggestions regarding sensitivity or diversity training from community members like the ones mentioned above.
This isn’t just an apology. It’s a promise. Although I wish I hadn’t done this, I have to live with my poor decisions. However, that doesn’t mean something positive can’t come out of this. Our April Fool’s issue serves as a cautionary warning about the consequences of ignorance, but I hope the actions we will take in the near future will serve as an example of how to take steps forward to promote an inclusive campus for all.
Abby Spudich
Managing Editor
Correction: An earlier edition of this article stated "As per the suggestion of many of our readers, The Maneater is seeking Safe Space Training, a program offered by the Women’s Center." Safe Space training is offered through the LGBTQ Resource Center, not the Women's Center. The Maneater regrets this error.
Nov. 22, 2011
Week No. 3 update: Social media contest
Once again, we're trailing behind. Let's make beating kU's newspaper one of our last acts in the Big 12 Conference. We're only 206 likes away from taking the lead on Facebook and 534 followers away from surpassing kU on Twitter.
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. Be sure to spread the word — bragging rights are at stake.
On Twitter:
@TheManeater | 4,428 followers
@ManeaterSports | 424 followers
For a grand total of 4,852 followers.
@UDK_News | 3,937 followers
@UDK_Sports | 318 followers
@UDK_Opinion | 1,131 followers
For a grand total of 5,386 followers.
On Facebook:
The Maneater | 1,837 likes
Maneater Sports | 167 likes
For a grand total of 2,004 likes.
The University Daily Kansan | 2,120 likes
UDK Sports | 90 likes
For a grand total of 2,210 likes.
Nov. 12, 2011
The Maneater spring 2012 editorial board
Congratulations to The Maneater spring 2012 editorial board. The applicant pool was once again very competitive this semester, and we’d like to express our gratitude to everyone who applied.
The new editorial board will begin training immediately and officially take over responsibilities beginning with the Dec. 9 issue.
Editor-in-Chief — Travis Cornejo
Managing Editor — Abby Spudich
Copy Chief — Kelsey Maffett
Copy Chief — Tony Puricelli
MOVE — Brandon Foster
Photography — Nick Ehrhard
Production Manager — Ashley Lane
Assistant Production Manager — Dana Schuermann
Graphics Assistant — Casey Purcella
University News — Hunter Woodall
Student Organizations — Kelly Olejnik
City, State and Nation — Allison Prang
Crime — Sally French
Projects — Kari Paul
Forum — Nassim Benchaabane
Arts and Entertainment — Sara Driscoll
Sports — Nate Atkins
Online Development — Ted Noelker
Multimedia — Joe Chee
Assistant Editor — Katie Yaeger
Assistant Editor — Molly Duffy
Hiring for online assistant, copy editors, columnists and cartoonists will begin later this fall.
We'd also like to express our thanks for the work all our departing editors have done this fall.
Nov. 7, 2011
Week No. 1 update: Social media contest
Here's an update after the first week of competition with kU:
On Twitter:
@TheManeater | 4,326 followers
@ManeaterSports | 407 followers
For a grand total of 4,733 followers.
@UDK_News | 3,848 followers
@UDK_Sports | 303 followers
@UDK_Opinion | 1,043 followers
For a grand total of 5,194 followers.
On Facebook:
The Maneater | 1,783 likes
Maneater Sports | 157 likes
For a grand total of 1,940 likes.
The University Daily Kansan | 2,097 likes
UDK Sports | 86 likes
For a grand total of 2,183 likes.
As you can see, we're still trailing behind. Help us surpass kU's newspaper by the end of this week. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Be sure to spread the word. Let's make beating kU's newspaper one of our last acts in the Big 12 Conference.