Recently, The Minnesota Daily’s board of directors selected four new student members. One of those selected is the Minnesota Student Association President Dan Kelly. There has been concern that Mr. Kelly’s presence on the Board will have an effect on the Daily’s content or its editorial position. This is not true.

The Daily’s board of directors is made up of 12 members: five professionals and seven students, three of whom make up the Office of the Publisher. The board’s makeup was designed to provide the Daily with expertise and guidance from professionals, but to leave a majority of the positions in the hands of students, so the student body could have a say in the Daily’s direction.

In order to serve the community, the Daily’s board of directors depends on input and advice from the community itself. The Daily has long recognized that when selecting advisers from the University community, the potential for a conflict of interest exists. The Minnesota Daily’s bylaws expressly forbid the board from influencing content, stating that “the board’s primary responsibilities shall be advice and consent, but it shall exercise no prior censorship.” No board member, other than the three who act as publisher, influence the day-to-day editorial content or position of the Daily.

In selecting its members, the board was looking for candidates who demonstrated a firm belief in the freedom of the press, an understanding of business management, journalism, media or mass communication, and who reflect the diversity of the University community. Mr. Kelly’s presence on the board will help the Daily better serve the community. His, or anyone else’s, presence on the board will not change the quality or content of the Daily, or the unbiased reporting that the University community expects and deserves.

Benjamin Exley
President,
Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mike Wereschagin
Editor in Chief

Justin Erickson
Business Manager