Lawmakers in Massachusetts and Georgia have pushed recently for greater access to campus crime information. A bill before the Massachusetts Legislature would make police departments at private schools in the state that have law enforcement authority subject to open records laws. A Senate vote on the Massachusetts bill has been postponed repeatedly.
Author: Allison Retka
The domain game
While most disputes involving student online content result in meetings, suspensions and in-school discipline, a handful of cases have moved to the courts, where students have challenged school punishment and cited their First Amendment right to express themselves online.
Illegal speech
All 50 states have civil libel laws that allow victims of allegedly defamatory statements to seek compensation from speakers. Criminal libel laws are different in that they allow the state to fine or imprison speakers of defamatory statements. Seventeen states, including Colorado, currently have criminal defamation laws, according to a December 2005 update on criminal defamation statutes by the Media Law Resource Center.
California Supreme Court rejects 'Friends' lawsuit
In a victory for free-expression advocates, the state Supreme Court ruled lastweek that sexually themed speech in a communications workplace was not groundsfor sexual harassment.
Woman files $800,000 defamation lawsuit against student newspaper
A student newspaper is being sued for $800,000 on allegations that the paperpublished defamatory statements last year about a rape victim.
Student's anti-gay T-shirt not protected by First Amendment, court rules
Afederal appeals court ruled yesterday that a school district was justified inbarring a student from wearing a T-shirt with anti-gaystatements.
Investigating rumors of Bush visit provokes threat of censorship, editor says
Student journalists at Oklahoma State University were eager to write a storyabout rumors that President Bush would speak at their university's springcommencement ceremonies.
Anonymous caller forewarns student editor of newspaper theft
One anonymous caller to the newsroom threatened to trash copies of the studentnewspaper; another mysterious caller declared the papers were being temporarily“held hostage.”
Student fights punishment for displaying American flag
Ahigh school student is alleging school officials violated her First Amendmentrights when they ordered her to remove a small American flag from her backpocket.
Student drug arrest story prompts newspaper theft, editor says
Atfirst, student editor Jen Thierer thought it was just a mistake; maybe thecirculation manager was confused, or forgot to pick up the newspapers from theprinter.