An outside review has upheld earlier investigations that found The Sun Star, a student newspaper at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, was protected by the First Amendment when it ran a satirical article about a vagina-shaped building, as well as a news story about comments on a “UAF Confessions” Facebook page.
Author: Rex Santus
Florida bill would allow university foundations to discuss donors behind closed doors
Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow university direct-support organizations, such as foundations, to meet behind closed doors to discuss private donations and research strategies.
Legislation to restrict access to presidential searches in Florida moves forward
A Florida bill that would limit public access to records related to searches for presidents, provosts and deans at public universities was approved by a House committee earlier this month.
Calif. student editors fear censorship after covering reports of teacher-student altercation
The story broke on Twitter: a physical altercation between a teacher and a student. Staffers at The Californian, the student newspaper at San Ramon’s California High School, were quick to jump on the reports and published a story in late November. Now, editors are worried school officials might begin censoring them.
UCLA adopts policy limiting access to faculty work
The University of California Los Angeles has adopted a “set of guiding principles” seeking to protect most faculty “scholarly communications” from disclosure under the state’s public records law.
Oregon State adviser resigns over public records dispute with university
An Oregon State University student-media adviser has resigned her job after a months-long dispute with university lawyers over public records.
Meet Rex Santus, one of SPLC’s spring interns
I’m Rex Santus, one of three new SPLC interns.