The role of an independent student newspaper is to hold feet to the fire and speak truth to power. I am thrilled that the Sunflower is doing that with the current administration and the Student Government Association. Now the Sunflower is paying the price literally with the SGA cutting its funding in half. Wichita State University needs a fully functioning student newspaper to be checks-and-balance for the students. It also is a source of employment for students whether they are in journalism or other pursuit of study. Cutting funding would mean cutting staff and hinder the newspaper’s ability to cover the news on campus. Well, it’s time for the SGA to reconsider that decision and show some spine. Restore full funding to the Sunflower. The administration also needs to get out of the way. The Sunflower has news to cover. It has a vital job to do.

—John J. Mesh, currently living in Enid, Okla., served as sports writer/sports editor/news editor at the Sunflower from 1985-89