, at which students expressed support for the paper’s autonomy. We’re encouraged that President Banks is apparently listening. Since the initial uproar, Banks and other university officials announced a student-inclusive working group to analyze the situation. “The Working Group should assess how The Battalion can best achieve its mission to be a strong, independent student voice in the future,” Banks said in a statement.
“It’s really beautiful in student journalism how you’re learning along the way while also teaching others,” Keeya said. It matters that outlets train the next generation, and it also matters that there are on-campus journalists with the independence to investigate and, when needed, call out university leaders for wrongdoing or errors in judgment. A&M’s Battalion staff is certainly getting on-the-job experience.
We urge Banks and Texas A&M’s administration to respect the autonomy of the student press, and we salute student journalists working across the country — in print and online — to inform and challenge their communities. From our printed and digital pages to yours, Batt staff, we’re with you.