COSO delays Jacko decision one week
The Committee on Student Organizations met yesterday to discuss whether to take steps against the Jack-O-Lantern student humor magazine, in the wake of student outcry over offensive material in the magazine's two most recent issues, but opted to table a decision until next week.
In a statement prepared by the committee, COSO said, "We recognize the unrest caused by the Jacko's recent issues and appreciate the community's patience as we take the needed time to carefully consider the best course of action."
The committee will most likely finish discussing the Jack-O in its meeting next Wednesday, according to Director of Student Activities Linda Kennedy.
Kennedy said it was premature to speculate on the outcome of that meeting, though she said COSO would benefit by "spending the time" to discuss the issue.
Jack-O Editor-in-Chief Kevin Goldman '99 also refused to speculate on COSO's decision. said yesterday: "This is a complicated matter, with many different issues coming into play. I think it would be irresponsible of any committee dealing with these circumstances to come to any conclusions without a careful consideration of all the opinions expressed.
"I recognize that to do so takes time, and I hope that this week gives all the members of COSO time to think about everything that was discussed with an open mind, so that next week they are able to come to the most responsible decision," Goldman said.
COSO wields considerable influence with non-independent College publications, because it both provides funding to the publications and is responsible for providing College recognition.
The committee could withhold recognition from and stop funding the Jack-O-Lantern, but this would be unprecedented in COSO's recent history, according to interviews with students members of COSO conducted earlier this week.
The Jack-O-Lantern has come under fire in recent weeks for its "Wu Tang Duets" article in the Sept. 1997 issue and for the "Eskimo Pick Up Lines" and a satirical "Dartmouth Review Dictionary" from its Nov. 1997 issue.
The Dartmouth Review satire, which included words such as "faggot" and "spic," was an attempt to show the Review's "subtle racism," said Jack-O-Lantern President Dan Powell '00, earlier this week.
