UTV suspends coverage of IFC's deliberations

A University Television staffer reported the details of last night's closed Interfraternity Council meeting then pulled his own story after bowing to pressure from IFC officials. The reporter, a fraternity member who requested anonymity out of concern for reprisals, attended the meeting as a representative of his fraternity, but twice left the chambers to videotape reports of discussion taking place inside. The UTV staffer said late last night that he had not realized that the details of the meeting would be suppressed and thought he would be able to broadcast his reports last night. He said he did not realize that the session was closed to the press. After hearing of the press block, he re-entered the meeting. UTV did not broadcast the reporter's story last night, instead airing only a statement from IFC President Bret Kinsella. UTV can only be received on channel 13 in Superblock dormitories. For most of the meeting IFC officials were not aware that the fraternity member was also attending the meeting as a UTV reporter. They apparently discovered the reporter's plans to report on the proceedings near the end of the meeting. IFC President Kinsella said in an interview after the meeting that he spoke with the reporter before the story was to air. "We have come to an agreement about this," Kinsella said. Other UTV staffers denied last night that the reporter had a conflict of interests by reporting on the organization of which he is a member. "He just wanted to cover the story," said College junior Mike Simon, UTV's sports director. "When I am in [the meeting], I'm in a fraternity. When I am out here, I am both," he said during the meeting.

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