Twenty years later, students, scholastic press advocates -- and administrators -- say Hazelwood has left them under a cloud of confusion about how much power administrators have to censor student speech. What constitutes a "legitimate pedagogical concern" still remains an active topic of debate.
Author: Casey Wooten
Hazelwood expanded principals' authority to censor — but not all school leaders choose to exercise the power
When Nelson Beaudoin became principal of Kennebunk High School in Kennebunk, Maine, seven years ago, he said students thought his philosophy about free speech was novel, even a bit strange.
Safety alerts go high-tech
The text message to students read: "From Public Safety. Male was found on campus with rifle. Please stay in your buildings until further notice. He is in custody, but please wait until the all clear."
Editors under fire
When criticism and scrutiny hit the newsroom, it is the editor who absorbs much of the flak. Keeping a cool head -- and having a little media savvy -- is important when hoards of protesters are calling for your removal, collegiate press experts say. But having a good understanding of school speech policies, your publication board's bylaws and the law might help more when fighting to keep your job.
Conn. editor meets with administrators on policies restricting paper's Web site, access to officials
The editor in chief of The Chronicle,Quinnipiac University's student newspaper, met with school officials lastweek to settle a long-running dispute over the newspaper's ability topublish articles online, as well as the media's access to schooladministrators.
Publications board president at Colo. State resigns
The interim president of Colorado State University's Board of Student Communications resigned Friday, withdrawing his proposal to change the BSC bylaws to grant the board increased power to punish student publications for the use of profanity.
Stolen papers returned at Nicholls State
The majority of the copies of NichollsState University's student-run newspaper,The NichollsWorth, have been found returned totheir stands around campus, Stephen Hermann, the university's director ofstudent publications, said Wednesday.
Issue with article on student's rape charge stolen from newsstands
Staffers at The Nicholls Worth, NichollsState University's student newspaper, were shocked Thursday to find thatnearly 90 percent of that week's edition had been stolen earlier thatmorning, said Stephen Hermann, director of student publications at theuniversity.
Board at Colo. State considers changes to publications policy
Following a well-publicized and controversialnewspaper editorial criticizing President Bush, a publications board at a public university in Coloradois considering revising its bylaws to allow newspaper staffers to be punishedfor publishing what the board deems indecent material.Currently, thebylaws governing the Board of Student Communications at Colorado StateUniversity at Fort Collins say officials cannot "censor or punish theoccasional use of indecent, vulgar or so called 'four-letter' wordsin student publications."
Ga. student who protested plans for campus parking garage contesting removal
A Valdosta State University student who was removedfrom campus after the school's president declared him a "clear andpresent danger" will take his appeal to Georgia's Office of StateAdministrative Hearings, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education saidWednesday in a press release.