Volante editor-in-chief suspended for remainder of semester

Volante Editor-in-Chief Trent Opstedahl was suspended for the remainder of the semester by the Student Media Board at its regular meeting Tuesday morning.

Opstedahl was found to have used a Coyote News video clip in the April 10 episode of The Volante’s web show “The Daily Verb” without giving proper credit, which is a violation of Volante ethics and principles, as well as a violation of practices regarding the use of other student media’s work.

Coyote News is a student organization overseen by the Media & Journalism Department. The Volante is independent of the department and is overseen by the Student Media Board.

As a result of this incident, the code of ethics for The Volante and the way the organization interacts with other student media organizations will be reevaluated. Staffers will be educated on media ethics during a media retreat before the start of the fall semester and all staff members have been sent a copy of the Society of Professional Journalists code of ethics.

Opstedahl will return as editor-in-chief in the fall semester.