Ohio State University punished eight students, including the former student government president, for their involvement in the theft of approximately 10,000 copies of the student newspaper, but declined to push for a criminal investigation.
Former student government President Robert “B.J.” Shruerger resigned Feb. 15 after admitting to participating in the theft of the Feb. 5 issue of The Lantern, which featured a front-page article about the misuse of $2,250 of student government funds for a private dinner.
According to Chris Newmarker, editor of The Lantern, the university’s punishment means the students will not be able to hold any student government positions for the rest of their time at Ohio State, will have to apologize to The Lantern and the undergraduate student government, and will have to reimburse the paper $3,200 for lost advertising revenue.
In addition, the students will be required to perform 20 hours of community service for The Lantern, including painting the newsroom.
Newmarker said he was satisfied with the outcome.
“I think they got what they deserved,” Newmarker said. “I am looking forward to taking pictures of them painting our newsroom.”
Newspaper thefts were also reported over the past month at the following schools:
University of North Texas, North Texas Daily\nBloomsburg University (Penn.), The Voice. \nUniversity of South Carolina, The Gamecock\nWichita State University, Sunflower
\nThis is traditionally the busiest time of the year for newspaper theft incidents. As student government elections draw near, the number of thefts almost always rises. If your paper is the victim of a newspaper theft please let us know. While most student publications are distributed without charge, the newspapers are not