FAIRMONT, W.V. — A former journalism professor at Fairmont State University claims that articles in the student-run newspaper concerning the presence of mold in dormitories are the reason his contract was not renewed with the school.  

The university contends that it did not interfere with student efforts or reports about mold in the newspaper, and provided additional reports from an abatement company that contrast the information that appeared in the newspaper.

Michael Kelley, a former FSU journalism assistant professor and student publications adviser, has been backed by the Student Press Law Center, a blogger on the Columbia Journalism Review, and now the Society of Professional Journalists, an organization that represents journalists nationally. The SPJ responded to Kelley’s contract loss through a letter written by president Dana Neuts to FSU president Maria Rose, asking that Kelley be reinstated and fully restored to the position as professor and adviser to Fairmont State’s student newspaper The Columns.

“Fairmont State is sending the message that student journalists and advisers must now fear punishment for publishing news of which the university does not approve, and that the First Amendment is only looked at favorably when it benefits the university,” Neuts said in the letter. “No one is benefiting from the situation as it stands.

“So far, the university’s responses to allegations of censorship, violations of First Amendment rights, and bullying are inadequate and do not reflect a genuine commitment on the part of the university to independently investigate the treatment of journalists and journalism at Fairmont State,” she wrote.  

Ann Booth, an associate vice president with university communications for Fairmont State, said Kelley was hired by Fairmont State on a temporary position lasting for nine months. According to Kelley’s contract, the nine-month position ran from Aug. 11, 2014, to May 17, 2015.

The contract reads, “This is a temporary appointment for the periods and purposes specified. No other interest or right is obtained by virtue of this appointment.” 

The SPJ’s letter as well as other protests center around Kelley’s grievance over his contract not being renewed due to the publication of two articles in The Columns concerning black mold in campus housing — one published in fall of last year about mold in College Park housing and another in the spring concerning mold in Pritchard Hall.

According to Booth, students reported problems with mold at Campus Park Apartments during the 2014 fall semester, and the university dealt with the issue after testing results from Astar Abatement, a company hired to test the mold, came back on a medium level.  

According to Booth, The Columns completed its own testing of mold in Pritchard, and the Astar investigators wanted to investigate the same area as used in The Columns’ report.

According to official reports from Astar, a total of 14 air samples, four swab and two tape lifts were collected. From these samples’ results, Astar concluded “laboratory results from samples collected indicate no areas of concern in this building.” 

Astar’s report said they believed The Columns swabbed a pipe where ceiling tiles were removed. Astar also swabbed this pipe and said results indicated very low growth compared to The Columns’ report.

Booth said the university would be handling Kelley’s grievance as a personnel matter according to state codes. Neuts said in her letter she felt the issue should not be addressed as a personnel matter.

“This is not a ‘contract matter’ to be adjudicated through faculty appeal channels,” she said. “No one at the university has adequately explained why it was necessary to let Mr. Kelley — a well credentialed journalism adviser — go,” Neuts said.

Kelley said he is unavailable to comment at this time because of legal concerns during the investigation of the grievance.

Hawkins writes for the Fairmont, Times West Virginian.