As part of the Badger Herald’s 40th anniversary celebration, every Wednesday we are republishing classic Editorial Board statements and columns from alumni staff writers. After the Daily Cardinal supported the actions of the Sterling Hall bombers in an editorial, a rift between the editors, faculty board members and the student government — The Wisconsin Student Association — resulted in two important campus-wide votes in 1976: one which would give control of the Cardinal Board of Directors to WSA members seeking to shift the “radical” focus and another which would take away veto power from the board’s faculty. While control by the WSA-run “Standard Press Party” would be short lived, the passage of the faculty veto referendum would allow The Badger Herald, 10 years later, to initiate a takeover attempt of the Cardinal. Below is the opinion of an editorial writer dissenting from the Badger Herald Editorial Board’s statement, also re-published today.

The important issue of the independence of the Daily Cardinal comes to a head next week when the students will decide whether the Cardinal board will be reorganized democratically with one equal vote for each board member.

This is not the only important test the Cardinal faces. The election of board members –also open to all students — may well decide the ultimate future of the newspaper. For the time, Cardinal staff candidates face serious opposition in the election. A group calling itself the Standard Press Party has entered a slate of candidates to oppose the Cardinal slate.

The reasons behind the SPP’s decision to run against the Cardinal slate is hazy.

The fact that the SPP slate is comprised entirely of non-journalists is somewhat unsettling, but the fact that they speak of having knowledge of press ethics and policy is downright appalling. The SPP has no business for such posts. The motives of such a move are highly suspect. The credentials of the candidates are lacking in all important areas. By their actions, these candidates have shown an extreme lack of knowledge of the principles and necessary causes of the positions they seek.

On the other hand, the Cardinal slate is composed entirely of experienced journalists who possess a working knowledge of the newspaper for which they work, in addition to an understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the Daily Cardinal.

Rob Siebers is currently the advertising manager for the Cardinal. My own personal experience as well as the professional observations of his work have shown he is a highly competent and sincere person. Steve Kerch also possesses these same skills and has shown an open mind and unbiased judgment in his position at the Cardinal. Mary Jo Ross has shown competence in her function as city editor of the Cardinal, and Jone Satran is an able reporter.

All possess the necessary experience and knowledge of journalism and their own newspaper to handle the task of deciding the financial policies of the newspaper.

The SPP slate has not shown any of these necessary traits. I hold nothing personal against the SPP, but they do not have the qualifications for the posts they seek.

It is certainly not enough to be aware of the working of the board itself: functions, bylaws and the like. They must be fully aware of the responsibilities and duties of the position in preserving the independence of a student newspaper that has fought for so many years to attain this goal. It is autonomy — the independence of those who work at the Cardinal to decide the direction of the paper and ultimately its future that is at stake.

SPP would replace knowledge with ignorance, experience with fumbling tyrolism and responsibility with complete disregard for duty.

Vote Press Brigade next week.