A move by St. Louis University to exert a greater degree of control over its student-run newspaper has many current and past SLU journalists worried.

University officials met with the student staff of the University News on April 30 to present a new version of the newspaper’s charter. The new charter would give an administration-appointed board control over candidates for editorial positions, including the power to both hire and fire editors.

Student staff and editors feel that the proposed changes would give the administration too much control over the publication’s content, but school officials maintain that the proposed changes are about improving the quality of the paper’s content and providing oversight in cases of student misconduct.

A vote on revoking the existing charter is expected within the week.

St. Louis University’s Student Government Association will meet tonight at 5:00 in the Pere Marquette Gallery to pass a resolution on the situation of the University News.

Check back later for PubDef’s video report.

UPDATE: Here is our interview with Diana Benanti, the paper’s editor.

Saint Louis University President Lawrence Biondi introduced Rick Majerus as the men’s basketball head coach today.

Word is that Father Lawrence Biondi, president of St. Louis University, is in Lebanon tonight, holed up in a hotel room while Israel bombs the country.

UPDATE: The AP now has the story… “University spokesman Clayton Berry said Biondi has been in frequent contact with the school and is talking with the U.S. Embassy to find out when and how to best get out of the country and return home.”