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Author: Ayla Mcginnis

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  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • Opinion

OPINION: Caring about climate change necessary for future

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • September 20, 2021
  • 0

With the effects of climate change becoming ever-present, it is imperative that global citizens begin work against the climate crisis to mitigate tragedy and destruction worldwide.

OPINION: Ruth Bader Ginsberg replacement should be chosen after presidential election
  • Opinion

OPINION: Ruth Bader Ginsberg replacement should be chosen after presidential election

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • September 28, 2020
  • 0

With the precedent that presidents cannot make a Supreme Court appointment in an election year, Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s replacement should not be appointed until the next presidential term.

  • Opinion

OPINION: Kennesaw Mountain should remain open during COVID-19

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • April 20, 2020
  • 0
OPINION: Environmental impacts of Coronavirus provide solace during pandemic
  • Opinion

OPINION: Environmental impacts of Coronavirus provide solace during pandemic

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • April 14, 2020
  • 0

Even though COVID-19 has created many negative situations, the positive environmental effects should not go unnoticed.

OPINION: Technology harms mental health, social lives
  • Opinion

OPINION: Technology harms mental health, social lives

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • April 13, 2020
  • 0

The spread of technology has begun to hurt students’ social lives, interpersonal relationships and emotional wellbeing.

OPINION: KSU’s Employee Fitness Center offers improved fitness, nutrition for employees
  • Opinion

OPINION: KSU’s Employee Fitness Center offers improved fitness, nutrition for employees

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • March 23, 2020
  • 0

Maintaining personal health is essential to a high quality of life, and KSU’s Employee Fitness Center gives faculty and staff this opportunity.

OPINION: Political discussions diminish polarization, create common ground
  • Opinion

OPINION: Political discussions diminish polarization, create common ground

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • March 17, 2020
  • 0

In a time when American politics are more divided than ever, it is imperative that students take the time to discuss their personal political beliefs.

  • Opinion

OPINION: Financial health essential in maintaining overall wellness

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • March 16, 2020
  • 0

Students need to learn the importance of financial education for their own mental and physical well-being.

OPINION: Part-time faculty deserve more recognition
  • Opinion

OPINION: Part-time faculty deserve more recognition

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • January 27, 2020
  • 0

Full-time faculty members are not the only ones who deserve appreciation for their years of service at KSU.

Meet the new opinion editor
  • Opinion

Meet the new opinion editor

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • January 20, 2020
  • 0

Ayla is a sophomore political science major with a minor in history.

Meet the new opinion editor
  • Arts & Living

Meet the new opinion editor

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • January 19, 2020
  • 0

Hello everyone. My name is Ayla McGinnis I am a sophomore political science major and history minor. I have been writing for the opinion section […]

OPINION: Students should reduce red meat consumption
  • Opinion

OPINION: Students should reduce red meat consumption

  • Ayla Mcginnis
  • November 4, 2019
  • 0

By opting for poultry or meat alternatives instead of beef or pork, students are able to preserve their wallets, their health and their conscience.

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The Sentinel is the student newspaper of Kennesaw State University. Since 1966, The Sentinel has provided an open forum to the campus community. It is published in print monthly and online weekly.

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Accessibility Statement

Copyright © 2025 The Sentinel Theme: Fact News By Adore Themes.

KENNESAW, Ga. — Since October 1963, KSU Student Media has dedicated itself to authentic storytelling and exceptional journalism written by the students, for the students. Over the past two academic years, Student Media at Kennesaw State University has seen significant traction and promise through strong student leadership and ambitious
initiatives.

OWL Radio, The Sentinel Newspaper and The Peak Magazine have grown into organizations whose reach, whether through written word or radio broadcast, touches tens of thousands of students.

Despite the lack of institutional support, Sentinel and OWL Radio have been nominated for the Atlanta Press Club 2026 Awards of Excellence and the GABBY awards for Student Radio, respectively.

Kennesaw State University administration is hindering progress by stripping the key funding for The Sentinel, The Peak and OWL Radio.

On March 23, KSU announced that there were no remaining funds for Student Media. This eradicated the possibility for additional physical prints for The Sentinel or The Peak and drastically cut funding for OWL Radio’s event programming. The justification of the funding removal does not come with a promise of better housing, parking, or safety on campus for students. Rather, it comes with KSU’s neglect of their debt to their music licensing budget.

For the fiscal year, Student Media was allocated a $97,000 budget by the Division of Student Affairs. However, instead of the entirety going to Student Media, $61,185.99 of the budget paid for music licensing fees for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) and Student Affairs as a whole.

This move through budgeting resulted in Student Media paying not just the debt for the music licensing, but Kennesaw State University’s ability to play music across campus freely.
Despite only being responsible for part of the music licensing costs, Student Media’s budget covers almost all of KSU’s music licensing fees, excluding athletics. These fees take up 63.08% of Student Media’s total budget, meaning OWL Radio, The Peak and The Sentinel are only receiving a fraction of the funding they need to function.

Here’s the truth: Kennesaw State is disinterested in the growth of Student Media.

We are in a dangerous and pivotal time in American History. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, under the Trump Administration, Press Freedoms have been dubbed “no longer a given” by the organization.

Student reporting and radio operations are becoming more crucial by the day to cover important topics larger media outlets look away from, and the stripping of funding follows a dangerous step for KSU’s perspective on Press and Broadcasting Freedoms.

This follows a concerning enrollment pattern in KSU’s journalism program while other university papers, such as the University of Georgia’s Red & Black and Emory University’s The Emory Wheel, continue to thrive. Editorial Board: KSU’s Neglect of Student Media Is Unacceptable

The university’s journalism program, which did not exist until 2017 according to Campus Enrollment Data, saw early success, with peak enrollment numbers in 2018 and 2020. However, the program has seen a steady decline since 2021.

Instead of taking the time to invest in its journalism students, KSU has opted to invest into their athletic department, pouring millions of dollars into sports and freshmen generations, including a $15 million dollar naming deal with FifthThirds Stadium and a lack of housing or class priority for students who classify as non-freshman.

Fundamentally, Kennesaw State’s recent history has been defined by an administration that has neglected the student body and proven repeatedly that KSU’s priorities are financially tied to athletics and tuition revenue from incoming classes.

To have a thriving campus community, KSU must invest in its student body. Students want a university that cares for each student, not how many students it can accept and pack into a classroom or a stadium. A university is only as great as its students’ success, and without true support, KSU will always fall short.

OWL Radio, The Sentinel and The Peak are calling for the support of the student body, faculty and alumni by donating to Student Media through KSU’s Giving Day. Any amount helps and will allow Student Media to continue quality, student led content.

Signed Kennesaw State University Student Media Editors and Managers, Zaire Breedlove, Devyn Byers, Alexis Barton, Tye Brown, Devyn Woodard, Joey Hawthorne, Mary Wingate, Mafe Gomez, James Harris, Jordan Scruggs, Scott Daniell, Jackson Louneoubon

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