On Tuesday, the ASUO Constitution Court dismissed a grievance filed by Oregon Commentator publisher Bret Jacobson against the ASUO Programs Finance Committee.
Justice Michael Harris wrote in the opinion that the grievance is not “ripe for review” because PFC has not yet voted on whether to approve the Commentator’s mission statement.
The PFC voted to postpone voting on the Commentator’s mission statement and budget during its Jan. 17 meeting because it expresses a conservative philosophy.
According to the mission statement, the Commentator provides “students with an alternative to the left-wing orthodoxy promoted by the other student publications, professors and student groups.”
PFC voted unanimously to strike the phrases “left-wing,” “political” and “conservatism” from the
mission statement.
According to PFC member Joe Streckert, the ASUO Green Tape Notebook rules prohibit groups receiving student fee funding from being affiliated with a
political party.
In the grievance, Jacobson said Streckert had not fulfilled his duties as a committee member. The court dismissed this charge as well, again because PFC has not voted on the mission statement.
The Commentator’s next PFC hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 5.
According to the Constitution Court, Jacobson may file another grievance after PFC makes a final decision about the Commentator’s mission statement.