GEORGIA – West Georgian staff members believe the November theft of 2,500 copies of the student newspaper could be related to their front-page story about a West Georgia University softball player who is being charged with homicide.
The student was arrested Oct. 30 and charged with homicide by vehicle, felony hit and run, and driving under the influence of alcohol, staff writer Daniel Bell reported. The two-page article did not include an interview with the student, but identified her as a member of the Lady Braves softball team.
Editor in Chief Adam Clark said the paper usually sends out its online edition at midnight the day the print edition is distributed.
Clark said he received calls on Nov. 17 saying five buildings on campus had not received copies of the paper. The press run of the West Georgian is 4,000, Clark said. He estimates the total value of the stolen newspapers to be $3,000.
The West Georgian filed a police report with the campus police Nov. 23. Clark said he has not heard from the police since the theft was reported.
Clark said the newspaper had never been stolen before. "We’ve never released a story that was so close to a well-known organization on campus," he said.
The staff published an editorial on Dec. 1 denouncing the theft.