I want to clarify my conversation from Thursday with alumna Sara Nay Feltner. While I did say that neither the School of Journalism faculty nor I took an active role in obtaining the gift from Roger Ailes, that was merely a factual statement. It should not be construed as a value judgment on my part as to the merits of the gift.
In my conversation with Ms. Feltner, I also touted the need we had for the new newsroom and the generosity of the Scripps College in advancing the money to build this “state-of-the-art” facility so our students could benefit from it. I also indicated that the money that the College needed to be repaid and that alumni gifts are often and regularly a vehicle to accomplish that.
That said, I think there is a bigger issue. Should a school, a college or a university openly discriminate among alumni regarding gifts based on political philosophy? To be fair to all alumni and mostly to our students, the answer needs to be “no.” Should we accept gifts only from liberals or only from conservatives? Clearly, the answer is “no.”
Although Mr. Ailes’ political views may be controversial or even alien to some of our alumni, he is an alumnus with a long and accomplished professional record at various networks. He, as many of our alumni, values his days at Ohio University and working with campus media. His generous gift was one of his ways of giving back to his alma mater — to help our students. It should be accepted and celebrated in that light.
In addition, this week, he graciously gave of his time and his experience in talking with students and faculty. It is especially important for our students to be exposed to professionals with varied backgrounds and with diverse viewpoints. The very foundation of a university is to share different perspectives, to question, to probe, to discuss and to learn.
With that in mind, I personally applaud Mr. Ailes’ generosity and the benefits our students will gain from his gift long into the future.Thomas Hodson is the director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Reader Comments
Forgive us if we call it Hodson' s Choice: You can have a cutting-edge newsroom financed by anyone, as long as it's the man who corrupted what we teach there.
Mr. Director would like us to believe that he is upholding valid ideas in a vibrant Valhalla. Loosened principles is not one of those, however. It's not a matter of Ailes being a "conservative." How disingenuous to present the criticism that way! The problem is Ailes's ultimate role in the profession of journalism. There's no benign way to accept cash from and honor this dude within the realm of journalism education, and he could never buy respectability in that sphere. Carl Icahn paid for science labs at Princeton but they didn't name the business school after him.
It kind of speaks volumes that Hodson has gone out of his way here to gloss over and dodge the looming ethical issue. It would have been more dignified and reassuring to have just taken the money, maintained a more distant posture and spared us this weak justification.
May I add that those of us thinking people who have a problem, have no problem with the gift or even Ailes' political ideology inasmuch as it relates to his contribution. We have a problem with the naming of the newsroom after a man who is ethically challenged when it comes to journalistic principles. I believe the association devalues the integrity of the school, which I hold in the highest regard.
Agreed.
I think in the end though, Hodson felt he had to say something since it's his students criticizing a gift. He probably just felt sitting back echoed a sentiment he didn't want the money, and given he not only wants, but needs the money, he had to say something. Addressing the actual issue would have forced him to acknowledge it's validity and would have left him feeling as if he had said to Ailes, "Thanks for the money you shitty human being you," which he obviously wouldn't want to feel as if he had said.
Would we be having this same conversation if the newsroom were named after Ted Turner? I have a sneaky suspicion that we wouldn't. Why? As a broadcast journalism major who has experienced both the old and the MUCH BETTER new newsroom, thank you Roger Ailes for your donation. Oh, and believe me no one can confuse the journalism school of a conservative slant -- no matter whose name is on the wall.
Actually, yes, I would a problem naming the newsroom after Ted Turner, or Bill O'Reilly, or Al Franken, or Rush Limbaugh, or Bill Maher or any cheerleader for one political party or the other.
*have a problem
So when John Gotti's family approaches the business school with a big donation in exchange for naming rights....
I may actually hate Bill Maher more than I hate O'Reilly... simply because he tries way to hard to be funny and the biggest liberal in the world at the same time...
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