Spring Break
Chicken Fires Montclarion Attorney
Shayna Jacobs
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: NEWS
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The first attempt followed a Nov. 14 SGA motion to close the public session. The Montclarion, a media organization of the SGA, has been actively contesting this practice, and attempted negotiation with Chicken and Vice President Andrea Khan this August, when representatives of The Montclarion, with former attorney Sal M. Anderton present, asked Chicken to submit legislation in acknowledgment that the SGA is a public body and will therefore comply with the state "sunshine" laws (NJSA10:4-6).
In accordance with this stance, The Montclarion Editor-in-Chief Karl de Vries read a statement during open forum on Nov. 14, citing the violation. He informed the legislature that "the action of going into closed session was in violation of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act."
He told them that the SGA had the choice of voiding the action taken during closed session or "face legal reprimand."
Chicken did not inform The Montclarion of the termination of Anderton from Tobia & Sorger in Harrison, who entered into a retainer agreement with de Vries on Jan. 19, 2007. He said the choice to fire Anderton was not the result of de Vries's public statement.
"It was already determined that the relationship between the SGA and The Montclarion and The Montclarion's separate legal counsel needed to be closely re-evaluated prior to the Nov. 14 meeting," said Chicken. "But after the issue came up at the Nov. 14 meeting, it made it more pertinent."
All three of the SGA's advisors as well as Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life Dr. Karen Pennington, each said they were not consulted by Chicken. They expressed that for The Montclarion to be represented by the SGA's attorney presents a conflict of interests.
"I don't think you'd find any attorney to represent both sides," said Fatima deCarvahlo, advisor and director of the Center for Student Involvement. She said it would be a conflict of interest "particularly for the attorney."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
determined1
Alberto D. Morales
posted 12/06/07 @ 5:41 PM EST
This is a disgrace.
I've been reading this newspaper for some time and have noticed constant legal battles between your student government and your newspaper. (Continued…)
Greg MacSweeney
posted 12/07/07 @ 8:21 AM EST
AS a former EIC of the Montclarion, I feel your pain. I also had legal entanglements with the SGA during my term (ironically, the president was Sal Anderton, but I must say Sal was much more reasonable and never took action like this). (Continued…)
Lauren Altomare
posted 12/16/07 @ 1:49 PM EST
I graduated from MSU in 2000 and was a staff writer for The Montclarion. Although things were not perfect then, we did not fight like this. I think it is wrong for the paper to bring their personal issues into the paper, and wrong that the SGA did not notify you before they fired your lawyer. (Continued…)
Jon Preciado
Jon
posted 12/16/07 @ 3:09 PM EST
The SGA went into closed session when the jurors were picked for the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) trial.
jasonglades
Speech writing
posted 2/13/09 @ 6:24 AM EST
It is evident that all 3 of the SGA's advisors as well as Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life Dr. Karen Pennington, each said they were not consulted by Chicken. (Continued…)
Linda Eaton
posted 3/14/09 @ 2:17 PM EST
Yes i agree with you , and nice news thanks. This realy nice news , i watch for them .
Justine Clarke
posted 3/15/09 @ 3:26 AM EST
Good information. Thanks for the post.
tomfeinberg
Term Paper Writing Service
posted 4/16/09 @ 6:55 AM EST
I musy admit, that this is really interesting article!
Higham Curtin
posted 4/17/09 @ 1:59 AM EST
Good scene, interesting post, thanks.
Shaefer Zirbel
posted 6/20/09 @ 2:07 PM EST
Great article. I agree totally.
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