Colorado State University has agreed to spin off its student media into a nonprofit organization, with hopes that the transition will be complete by the fall semester.

The nonprofit will incorporate the Rocky Mountain Collegian, College Avenue Magazine, KCSU radio and CTV television. The Rocky Mountain Collegian had been in the news throughout the 2007-08 school year following a September editorial that read "Taser this... Fuck Bush." In January, the newspaper was the subject of discussions between the university and the commercial media chain Gannett regarding a possible purchase of the newspaper. Those discussions were suspended in March.

Colorado State will provide the new organization with an annual fee of $500,000, plus $450,000 in transitional funding over the next two years. (Student media will also retain $250,000 from its existing reserves.)

Student media will remain in their existing location in Lory Student Center. Anne Hudgens, executive director of student life at Colorado State University, said the student media organization would begin leasing that space, which is currently provided without charge.

Hudgens also said KCSU, the FM radio station, will continue to have its license owned by the university, with the student media corporation managing its operations.

CSU's press release on the announcement can be found here. The Rocky Mountain Collegian's story can be read here.