It is a common goal in this newsroom to write information in an honest and balanced way. However, we are constrained by what information we are given.
As student journalists, we try our best to pursue our degrees while following through on every news story that hits our desks. On top of the busy schedule, the majority of the students that work for the Torch are also juggling second jobs to support themselves.
Because we are dedicated to journalism we fill the few spare hours we have to develop our practice. But in every journalist’s career, they have run into dead ends on stories that matter.
Recently we have been working on a story purported to be a serious crime. Now, because we believe in due diligence we choose not to write stories based on anonymous sources or rumors that we can not properly vet.
What we do know is that as of the month of January, Lane Community College no longer employs Donyel Hill, the Director of Student Engagement. This position oversees student clubs, Associated Students of Lane Community College Student Government, and the Student Activity Fee Committee.
This is a troubling time to lose a person who is responsible for student government as the ASLCC open voting for the elections on Feb. 17. The Torch reached out to the ASLCC hoping to understand the nature of his departure. So far, no one will speak on the record.
We have received mixed reports from anonymous sources over the past few weeks claiming Donyel Hill resigned, or quit or was fired. The Torch asked for clarification on this issue, but the current level of transparency in the ASLCC has only raised more questions.
Maybe it’s my own skepticism, but we are asking uncomplicated questions and not receiving straightforward answers.
