TERMS OF USE
First and foremost, The Duquesne Duke is dedicated to being an open, fair news forum for the students, faculty and alumnae of Duquesne University. This forum is conducted in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists and with sensitivity to the University's mission statement. By providing this open forum, the Duke is maintaining the atmosphere of responsible discussion that is the underpinning of the university setting.
To read the entire Constitution for The Duquesne Duke, please scroll to the bottom of the page.
Comments and Forum Posting Policy
Thank you for your interest and participation in the Duke comments and online forum system. To safeguard Duquesne's Mission Statement while fostering a healthy campus dialogue, we require users to follow these basic posting guidelines:
Right to Delete PostsAny postings that the Duke deems incongruent with its policies - including messages that are defamatory, obscene, abusive or in violation of copyright or trademark laws, or messages inconsistent with the University's Mission Statement and Catholic identity - are subject to editing or deletion. The Duke reserves the right to monitor forums and remove posting privileges of users who violate these terms. All messages must be written in English.
Posting RulesComments, interactive areas, discussion boards, and the Duke Forums are intended to encourage public debate. We expect participants to differ ? judgment and opinion are subjective, and we encourage freedom of speech and a marketplace of ideas. But by using these areas of our website, you are participating in a community that is intended for all our users. Therefore, we reserve the right to remove any content posted on our site at any time for any reason.
Decisions as to whether content violates any Posting Rule will be made by the Duke at its sole discretion, after having received actual notice of such posting. Without limiting our right to remove content, we have attempted to provide guidelines to those posting content on our site. When using our website, please do not post material that:
- contains vulgar, profane, abusive or hateful language, epithets or slurs, text or illustrations in poor taste, inflammatory attacks of a personal, racial or religious nature, or expressions of bigotry, racism, discrimination or hate.
- is defamatory, threatening, disparaging, grossly inflammatory, false, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, inaccurate, unfair, contains gross exaggeration or unsubstantiated claims, violates the privacy rights of any third party, is unreasonably harmful or offensive to any individual or community, contains any actionable statement, or tends to mislead or reflect unfairly on any other person, business or entity.
- violates any right of the Duke or any third party.
- discriminates on the grounds of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation or disability, or refers to such matters in any manner prohibited by law.
- violates any municipal, state or federal law, rule, regulation or ordinance, or attempts to encourage such an evasion or violation.
- unfairly interferes with any third party?s uninterrupted use of the Duke.
- advertises, promotes or offers to trade any goods or services, except in areas specifically designated for such purpose.
- uploads copyrighted or other proprietary material of any kind on our website without the express permission of the owner of that material.
- uses or attempts to use another?s account, password, service or system except as expressly permitted by the Terms of Service.
- includes images, photos, or articles or other content that constitutes, promotes or encourages illegal acts, violation of any right of any individual or entity, violation of any local, state, national or international law, rule, guideline or regulation, or otherwise creates liability.
- uploads or transmits viruses or other harmful, disruptive or destructive files.
- disrupts, interferes with, or otherwise harms or violates the security of our website, or any services, system resources, accounts, passwords, servers or networks connected to or accessible through our website or affiliated or linked sites.
- "flames" any individual or entity (e.g., sends repeated messages related to another user and/or makes derogatory or offensive comments about another individual), or repeats prior posting of the same message under multiple threads or subjects.
- is inconsistent with the University's Mission Statement or Catholic identity.
Constitution
For The Duquesne DukeDuquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa.Nov. 1, 2004Mission:
Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost is a Catholic University, founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, the Spiritans, and sustained through a partnership of laity and religious. Duquesne serves God by serving students-through commitments to excellence in liberal and professional education, through profound concern for moral and spiritual values, through the maintenance of an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity, and through service to the Church, the community, the nation, and the world.
Article I: Name.
The name of this organization will be The Duquesne Duke.
Article II: Purpose.
First and foremost, The Duquesne Duke is dedicated to being an open, fair news forum for the students, faculty and alumnae of Duquesne University. This forum is conducted in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists (see code below) and with sensitivity to the University?s mission statement. By providing this open forum, the Duke is maintaining the atmosphere of responsible discussion that is the underpinning of the university setting.
Article III: Officers.
Section 1, Selection of an adviser:
The Duquesne University Publications Board will interview all candidates for the position of adviser, and the board will select the final candidate. The board also will handle any disciplinary action toward the adviser, pending a hearing before the board. The Publications Board in the event of repeated violations of the SJP ethics code, a serious violation of the law, or extreme dereliction of duties can remove the adviser. Removal of the adviser requires the vote of two thirds of all current members. If less than two thirds of all current members are in attendance at the time of the vote, the vote will be decided in favor of the adviser.
Section 2, Selection of an editor:
The Publications Board will interview candidates for editor of the Duke, and the board will make the final selection. The Publications Board in the event of repeated violations of the SJP ethics code, a serious violation of the law, or extreme dereliction of duties can remove the editor. Removal of the editor requires the vote of two thirds of all current members as well as the vote of the adviser. If less than two thirds of all current members are in attendance at the time of the vote, the vote will be decided in favor of the editor.
Section 3, Selection of all other editors:
The adviser and the editor will select all other editors of the Duke, and, if necessary, handle any disciplinary action. The Publications Board will be advised of any serious disciplinary action.
Article II: Advertising.
The Duke reserves the right to reject any advertisements that are counter to the mission of the University (and/or Catholic Church), or those that are in extremely bad taste.
Article IV: Amendments and Interpretation.
Section 1, Procedure:
The movement to amend this constitution may be proposed by any member during a meeting.
Section 2, Votes:
Amendments shall be voted on at the meeting following proposal. The ratification of an amendment requires the vote of two thirds or more of all members. Any members not present at the meeting may make their vote known the to faculty adviser.
Section 3, Approval:
All amendments must be submitted to the chairperson of the Publications Board who will then forward them to the board for review and approval.
Article V: Regulations:
The organization shall comply with the Duquesne University Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. As a publication, the organization shall also comply with the rules and by-laws of the Publications Board.
The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics:
Preamble:
Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.
Seek Truth and Report It:
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Journalists should:
-Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
-Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
-Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
-Always question sources? motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
-Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
-Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
-Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
-Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
-Never plagiarize.
-Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
-Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
-Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
-Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
-Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
-Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
-Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
-Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.
Minimize Harm
Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.
Journalists should:
-Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
-Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
-Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
-Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone?s privacy.
-Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
-Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
-Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
-Balance a criminal suspect?s fair trial rights with the public?s right to be informed.
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.
Journalists should:
-- Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
-- Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
-- Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
-- Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
-- Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
-- Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
-- Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
Be Accountable
Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
Journalists should:
-Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.
-Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.
-Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
-Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.
-Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced by thousands of writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months of study and debate among the Society's members. Sigma Delta Chi's first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.
2008 Woodie Awards