Corbin Crable was removed from the office of treasurer of Kansas Collegiate Media on July 12, 2018.
Since taking over the duties of treasurer in September, 2014, Crable spent $21,000 of KCM funds for personal use. Officials at Crable’s former employer, Johnson County Community College, became aware of the situation during the week of July 9 and notified the executive board of KCM of their discovery.
The organization’s officers as well as the former treasurer and past presidents assisted Stacy Sparks, KCM president, with the research of financial records prior to Crable’s term as treasurer.
Crable has made restitution for the funds.
Crable was the third individual to serve the organization as treasurer since 1996. KCM has never experienced this type of breach of trust. Obviously, more scrutiny will be required for the position of treasurer.
Copies of the actual bank statements will be shared with the other officers on a monthly basis and additional oversight will be established.
Sparks will serve as treasurer until new officers are elected and installed in April 2019.
The members of Kansas Collegiate Media advise student magazines, newspapers, online news sites, radio and television stations and yearbooks at colleges in the state. Our group of volunteers coordinate contests and arrange for judges to review and recognize exceptional work in student media.
We plan an annual conference for our student members with sessions about telling compelling, important stories – through writing, images and design – in print, video, audio and through online platforms.
The adviser members of KCM sponsor the Jackie Engel award to recognize an outstanding Kansas high school journalism adviser each year.
KCM was founded in 1967 as The Kansas Association of Two-Year College Mass Media Advisers. In 1979, the organization became the Kansas Association of Journalism Advisers and in April 1988, the name was changed to Kansas Associated Collegiate Press. In 2011, the name was changed to Kansas Collegiate Media.
Our work is focused on students. We will continue to focus our efforts on providing opportunities for students to prepare for careers in media.
Stacy Sparks, President, Kansas Collegiate Media
Associate professor of journalism, Southwestern College