A state law created to protect people from “revenge porn” has drawn criticism and a federal lawsuit from bookstores, publishers and news media groups, who claim they could be punished because the law is overly broad and violates constitutionally guaranteed free speech.
Author: Michael Bragg
Boise State U., criticized for imposing 'security fees' for gun-rights event, agrees to revise speech policies
The policy granted university officials discretion to impose security fees on specific student organizations. The cost to hire the additional “security and/or law enforcement officers,” was then passed down to the organization sponsoring the event in the form of event costs.
Student support for First Amendment rights surpasses adult support, survey shows
The study also shows 61 percent of students agree that they should be allowed to report on controversial issues in their school newspaper without prior review, compared to only 41 percent of teachers who agree.
Student journalists not part of ‘working press’ barred from Ill. gubernatorial candidate’s press conference on medical marijuana
A press representative for Bruce Rauner, the Republican candidate for governor, told the Columbia College students and their professor, Curtis Lawrence, that the press conference on medical marijuana was open only to the “working press.” Rauner, who is running against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, would not talk to the students, either.
Pitt delays policy agreement giving administration control of faculty intellectual property rights
According to a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, a written agreement is necessary for a second party, in this case the university, to claim intellectual property rights.
Lawsuit alleges Ohio high school students were illegally punished for social media posts
The parents of four high school students have filed a federal suit against their school and local police department, claiming the students were illegally punished for social media posts that school administrators saw as threats.
Wis. high school reverses prior review policy, returns editorial control to students, adviser
Fond du Lac High School’s student news organization will return to business as usual this academic year with new guidelines, after a prior review policy caused friction between administrators and student journalists in the previous school year.
Copyright law protects U. of Missouri course syllabi from public disclosure, state court rules
The University of Missouri System does not have to release course syllabi because they are protected by copyright laws, a state appellate court ruled last week — a decision the National Council on Teacher Quality plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Auburn U. student newspaper reports more than 1,000 copies stolen
The staff at the student newspaper at Auburn University has reported to local law enforcement that more than 1,000 copies of Thursday’s issue were stolen from seven locations on campus — a loss of nearly $800 for the news organization.
Former Minn. nursing student files appeal after losing Facebook speech case
A federal court has dismissed a suit from a former student at Central Lakes College, who sued college administrators for expelling him from a nursing program over remarks on his personal Facebook page.