CENTRAL TIMES STAFFERS DEFEND THEIR ADVISER

Current and former Naperville Central High School newspaper staff
members are banding together to support longtime adviser Linda Kane,
who has been asked to resign her post with the paper.

Administrators are upset over recent articles in the Central Times
they say glorified marijuana use and contained unacceptable profanity.

It isn't the first time the award-winning student paper has clashed
with school officials.

But this time Kane, who is set to retire in two years, says
administrators told her she must either resign from the newspaper or
she will be fired as its adviser.

She said she refuses to step down and is exploring legal
options.

In the meantime, students who have worked with her at the Central
Times are rushing to her defense.

Lauren Sieben, a 2007 Central graduate and former editor in chief of
the Central Times, sent a letter Wednesday to school and district
administrators as well as the school board that was signed by 30
former staff members.

In the letter, the alumni point to the paper's achievements --
including nine National Pacemaker awards -- and the "heart and
dedication" they said Kane has put into it for the past 19 years.

"Kane instills journalistic values and skills in her students that
rival the journalism education many of us have received at various
national universities," the letter says. "Kane is a valuable asset
not only to the Central Times but also to the NCHS community. Her
knowledge, instructional skills, journalistic experience and
strengths as a publication adviser are unmatched by anyone else in
the field of scholastic journalism."

Editor in Chief Hannah Oppenheimer said current staff members also
have written letters to administrators in support of Kane, who she
says has taught them not only good journalism but also about commitment.

"Obviously she edits our papers and makes suggestions to us, but it's
not just that," Oppenheimer said. "She does that in such an
experienced sense that we can trust her completely with all the
decisions she makes regarding our newspaper."

Principal Jim Caudill has said he doesn't mind the paper writing
about controversial topics, but it is also his job to watch out for
the welfare of Central students. He said that welfare was compromised
by the stories he believes glorify the use of marijuana and use
inappropriate language.

He and district administrators are exploring the possibility of
changing the paper's policy on profanity -- which allows expletives
in direct quotes if they are crucial to the meaning of the quotes --
but the staff has threatened to file a lawsuit if they do.

Superintendent Alan Leis said Wednesday he will give serious
consideration to the input he received from the paper's staff members.

He said the district is in "fact-finding mode" and will follow due
process as it would with any other personnel matter.

"I think this issue raises some things we need to have further
dialogue on," he said. "These kinds of issues have come up between
the principal and sponsor … before, and we've been able to work
through them.

"The legal landscape continues to change and it's an issue we need to
deal with long-term as far as what is the principal's role and the
students' role in these issues. We need to deal with this very
thoughtfully."

Aside from the newspaper articles in question, he said he is also
"sad and disappointed" by negative remarks Kane made about Caudill in
recent Daily Herald articles.

One of Kane's supporters, former managing editor and a 2007 graduate
Alex Ruppenthal, agreed the adviser could have expressed herself in a
more diplomatic way. But he said it would be "tragic" to see her
resign or be fired after building such a successful program.

"I was always interested in journalism, but she nurtured me and all
of her students," Ruppenthal said. "She knows how to teach journalism
and teach it right."

Kane said she is touched by the kind words of current and former
students in what has been a trying time.

"I know I've gotten a lot of e-mails of support and heard from a lot
of community members and parents and even journalism teachers at
Columbia College," she said. "Honestly, I don't know if I could walk
into this building without this support."