CONNECTICUT — Thieves have stolen copies of two YaleUniversity student publications in recent weeks, prompting thestudent newspaper to declare such thefts a trend on the Ivy Leaguecampus.
The university’s student newspaper, the Yale Daily News,reportedthat about 400 copies of the April 17 issue were stolen. The issuecontained an article detailing the attempts of many members ofthe women’s varsity hockey team to obtain a new coach.
Letitia Stein, editor of the YDN,said 10 of the of themissing issues were stolen by a hockey player who said she wasupset that the newspaper was working against the team. The captainof the team said there were no organized plans to remove the newspapers.
Stein said the YDNreported the theft to Yale police,and the college dean sent an e-mail to the entire student bodycondemning the thefts and reminding students of the importanceof free speech.
Less than a week before the YDNwas stolen, 3,000 copiesof a campus humor magazine, Rumpus,were removed from thecampus post office and other sites on campus. Many of the magazineswere later found in university basements and recycling bins.
The April 14 issue of Rumpuscontained the names of currentmembers of five secret university societies, most prominentlySkull and Bones. Editors said they believe members of one of thesocieties stole the issues.
This is the second time in the last couple of years that Rumpushasbeen stolen, said co-editor Nick Fleisher.
"I’m obviously concerned because it ‘s a free-speech issue,and it’s annoying and expensive for us," Fleisher said.
In September, 700 copies of the conservative Yale magazineLight and Truthwere removed from freshman mailboxes byfreshman counselors at orientation. The issues attempted to discouragefreshmen from attending orientation events.
Stein said YDNwrote an editorial denouncing the largenumber of thefts this year."We were worried that there was a general sentiment on campusthat stealing free publications was not an abridgement of freespeech," Stein said. "I think students assume, moreso than they do with regular papers, that the [free student publications]are there for them to do what they please."