Brockport, N.Y. -- Alexandra Kogut was killed in her dorm room at The College at Brockport last weekend. This week’s cover of the student newspaper, The Stylus, features a timeline of her relationship with her accused killer 21-year-old Clayton Whittemore.
“We spent a lot of time deciding what we wanted to put on the cover,” said Cassie Negley, editor in chief of The Stylus.
The paper hit newsstands on Wednesday - that same day an estimated 400 to 500 copies were stolen.
“While they should be voicing their opinions and they can say whatever they want, they shouldn't be taking our newspapers,” said Negley. “That is illegal. Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean you can take it away.”
Student government vice president Brian Witmer is one of the students who found the cover (click for full cover) distasteful.
“I would have preferred a celebration of her life,” said Witmer.
It was the use of social media that junior Nick Wershing thought needed a closer look.
“You can't keep social media out of it, but you have to edit and monitor what you are actually putting into it and the way you're saying it,” said Wershing.
Not so, says Thomas Proietti, scholar in media at St. John Fisher College.
“I think the photographs the images and the fact that they integrated twitter feeds and what not, I think it's beautiful,” said Proietti. “I think it's done elegantly, but again I understand those who are not part of the newspaper who criticize.”
Not all students saw this week’s cover as sensational.
“It's a very creative cover, to see the difference,” said Freshman Brianna Corbitt.
“I thought it was very interesting,” said Junior Matt Hull. “It gave details to what was going on it wasn't upsetting it was just their way of expressing what happened."
The Stylus has filed a complaint with the campus police regarding the missing papers. They will continue keep the current issue on newsstands.
