Orange Media Network Advisory Board
Minutes, Oct. 28, 2025
I. Call to order
OMN General Manager Steven Sandberg called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
Present:
Joshitha Davillvru of INTO
Keegan Kirby of OSUPC
Melia Castro, DCE
Molly Hoglund, EIC of The Barometer
Mya Kuzmin, ASOSU
Phoebe Ison, KBVR-TV
Molly Hoglund, EIC of The Barometer
Mya Kuzmin, ASOSU
Phoebe Ison, KBVR-TV
Mason Fischer, EIC of Beaver's Digest
Sam Szekely, EIC of PRISM
Sam Szekely, EIC of PRISM
Izzy Sproba, EIC of DAMchic
Elizabeth Lopez-Carrera, CFSL
Elizabeth Lopez-Carrera, CFSL
Velyn Scarborough, associate director of Student Media and Initiatives
Steven Sandberg, OMN general manager and ex officio board member
Secretary and journalism adviser Jennifer Moody, in attendance to take minutes
Online: Jillian St. Jacques, SWLF and the program coordinator for the Applied Journalism minor
Not present: John Larison, SWLF
Representatives from DAS, Clubs & Orgs and Student at Large (not yet named)
II. Introduction to board
Steven reminded members they are the governing board for Orange Media Network. The mission of the board is to support student media, and to make sure what student media is doing best serves and best represents the university community.
III. Board members introduce themselves
Board members took turns introducing themselves by name, pronouns if they wished, and which organization they represent.
IV. Overview of bylaws
Each board member was given a copy of the OMN bylaws. Steven went over a few highlights, including:
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The board's purpose and function, which Molly and Mya took turns reading aloud.
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The group's mission: to make sure OMN accurately and fairly represents this campus. To do this, Steven noted, involves watching/reading/listening to OMN work and giving constructive feedback on it.
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Hiring new leaders each year.
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Responding to community input and/or complaints. Board meetings are public and the board is accountable to that public.
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Meetings. Board meetings are once a month and the entire board should be present, although proxy members can be named if a member has class, is out sick or has another reason they cannot be present. After two consecutive unexcused absences, the board may choose to remove a member.
V. Action items: Selection of board chair and vice chair
Steven went over the duties of the board chair and vice chair, noting that it is the chair's job to work with him to develop and send out agendas and announcements, and to run each meeting. The vice chair takes over when the chair is not available.
Steven invited nominations. Phoebe nominated Melia for chair, saying as a representative of DCE, she would be a good voice for keeping OMN on track in terms of inclusivity. Elizabeth seconded the nomination, which Melia accepted. No other nominations were received, and board members voted in favor of Melia as chair unanimously.
Steven invited nominations for vice chair. Mya nominated herself and Molly seconded the nomination. During discussion, Sam asked what "special projects," as referenced in the bylaws, that the board might undertake. Steven said that might involve, as an example, OMN connecting with other organizations, which the board could help facilitate. Sam said he thought having an OMN person as vice chair might be beneficial overall, unless the role is mostly to facilitate what the chair does. Jen noted it is important that OMN be represented on the board for that reason but that the actual positions were of less importance than the service itself.
There being no other nominations, board members voted unanimously for Mya as vice chair. Steven then turned the meeting over to Melia to continue.
Steven invited nominations for vice chair. Mya nominated herself and Molly seconded the nomination. During discussion, Sam asked what "special projects," as referenced in the bylaws, that the board might undertake. Steven said that might involve, as an example, OMN connecting with other organizations, which the board could help facilitate. Sam said he thought having an OMN person as vice chair might be beneficial overall, unless the role is mostly to facilitate what the chair does. Jen noted it is important that OMN be represented on the board for that reason but that the actual positions were of less importance than the service itself.
There being no other nominations, board members voted unanimously for Mya as vice chair. Steven then turned the meeting over to Melia to continue.
VI. New business
Melia asked about appointing members to represent DAS, Clubs & Orgs and Student At Large. Steven said the positions are still open. Department heads have been asked to find candidates. He said he would share the application for the at-large student representative so members can share it out.
Izzy asked whether the student had to be from outside OMN. Steven said it did. Mya asked if the representative also needed to be from outside ASOSU and Steven said nothing in the bylaws would prevent a second ASOSU student from serving. Mya asked who made decisions on representation, and Steven said it is himself, unless the board wishes to take on that responsibility. However, he said, that likely would mean not having the people in place until January.
Steven noted the board may wish to evaluate new publications at its Nov. 28 meeting, as both The Barometer and Beaver's Digest should be out by then.
Phoebe asked whether other campus media organizations should be part of the discussion, such as New Media Communications. Steven said that's up to the board, but the board's mission is to support OMN specifically.
Phoebe also said TV would love the board's perspective on its first episode of its newest show. She said she also could bring clips of what TV is working on. Melia agreed, especially because clips from the drag show were mentioned and she would be willing to get feedback from the Pride Center. Sam said it would be good to get reactions to social media posts, too.
Phoebe suggested brainstorming about intersections and potential collaborations between programs. She said representatives from PRAx came to a recent student leader meeting and talked about ways the two could connect, which was eye-opening, and she'd like to do more of that.
Joshitha asked to talk more about international students, saying she doesn't see many connections between them and OMN. Phoebe said TV is always looking for crew and that many international students have found community with KBVR. Elizabeth agreed more connections would be good and said for herself, she had an earlier experience with DAMchic that involved a request to borrow cultural clothing rather than featuring the student who owns it, which she didn't feel was appropriate. She said she also was concerned about media organizations using people's full names when safety might be a concern.
Mason said BD did a lot of work with protests last year and that people need to know they can say no to interviews.
Steven also noted that conversations can take place outside of board meetings if people have questions or concerns.
VII. Comments from the public
Steven noted this is a placeholder on the agenda for public comments, if members of the public come to a meeting. No one was present at this particular meeting.
Phoebe asked whether board members had any comments on anything produced so far. Mya asked where TV material could be found, and Phoebe told her that sports, Locals Live, Mixed Signals, Into the Industry and the new show, Orange Subversions, all are available 24/7 on YouTube. She said material can be broadcast to screens in Dixon and the Memorial Union and again said they always need volunteers. Melia said screens are also available at the DCE centers.
Velyn asked Joshitha about stories international students would like to see, and Jositha said she would think about it. She said it's not a matter of seeing more students showcased, it's that current content isn't engaging. There is a cultural difference there. "I don't know how to put it in words," she said.
Sam reminded the group that PRISM submissions are open, and that poetry in people's first languages are welcome. Volunteers are invited to write blog posts, and volunteering can be a starting point for involvement in OMN.
Elizabeth asked the magazines to bring their theme ideas to the board as a sounding board.
Jositha, noting DAMchic's spring magazine, which involved living portrayals of historic art pieces, said she can see the medium is trying, but the images are old and outdated. People our age are not into what you're posting and making, she said. Maybe it was appreciated then, but not now.
Melia said if OMN media plans portrayals of anything culturally specific, her own background covers only small pieces of what might be needed to solicit feedback. DCE people who know more could help, as could Clubs & Orgs.
Given the amount of time left in the meeting, the secretary was asked to make a formal note of "6-7" in the minutes.
VIII. Adjourn
There being no further business, Chair Melia adjourned the meeting at 4:56 p.m.