Revisions to the Missouri Sunshine Law signed by Gov. Bob Holden on the University of Missouri at Columbia campus in June clarify, among other things, that the public university’s board of trustees is required to follow state open-records laws.
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Editors sue student council for closed meetings
The Mirror’s former editor in chief Jessica Perciante, current editor in chief Heath Urie and current managing editor Christopher Marcheso allege that the university’s Student Representative Council and its president, Steve Gustafson, knowingly violated state open-meetings laws when they conducted closed-door meetings on Sept. 24, 2003, Nov. 19, 2003, and Feb. 4, 2004.
Minn. court shines light on presidential searches
In a 4-2 decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court on July 15 ordered the public university's board of regents to reveal information about candidates interviewed during the 2002 search. The Supreme Court upheld rulings in two lower courts.
Private university's police refuse to release records
The Washington University Police Department told Student Life that because it is an agency of the private university, it is not required to follow the Missouri Sunshine Law.In a letter to editor in chief Jonathan Greenberger, a university official stated, “Washington University ...is not a ‘public governmental body.’ Therefore, the University is not subject to the Missouri Sunshine Law and other laws expressly applicable to public bodies, and the reports you seek are not open to public inspection,” Student Life reported.
Federal court rules Pa. ban on alcohol ads in student media is unconstitutional
PENNSYLVANIA — A federal appeals court ruled on July 29 that a state law banning paid alcohol advertisements in student media was a violation of the First Amendment.
The law, known as Act 199, was enacted in 1996 and prohibited the advertisement of alcoholic beverages in any medium that is "published by, for or in behalf or any educational institution."
Under the act, college newspapers could not run advertisements if they contained any information about alcohol.
In conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, The Pitt News, a student newspaper at the University of Pittsburgh, filed a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania attorney general, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board in 1999.
Calif. paper angry at knock-off Web site for posting articles without consent
CALIFORNIA — When the adviser to the Loyolan, a student newspaper at Loyola Marymount University, visited www.loyolan.com, he immediately realized the newspaper should have registered the domain name.
Calif. high court overturns conviction of student who wrote ‘dark poetry’
CALIFORNIA — The felony conviction of a Santa Teresa High School student who wrote "dark poetry" was overturned by the California Supreme Court, which ruled July 22 that protecting school safety and freedom of expression were "not necessarily antagonistic goals."
The student, referred to in court documents at "George T.," served 100 days in juvenile hall during his sophomore year after showing a classmate a poem that read in part: "For I can be the next kid to bring guns to kill students at school.
PRESS RELEASE: Statement of Student Press Law Center Executive Director Mark Goodman Regarding Lane v. Simon and Student Press Censorship at Kansas State University
The Student Press Law Center condemns the actions of officials at Kansas State University in removing a student newspaper adviser based on the content decisions made by student editors.
PRESS RELEASE: SPLC condemns Kansas State’s ‘bizarre’ interpretation of First Amendment
--For Immediate Release--
In a statement issued today, the Student Press Law Center condemned the position taken by officials at Kansas State University in their legal battle against student journalists over press freedom.
Media law group creates hotline for reporters covering political convention
MASSACHUSETTS — Student journalists covering the Democratic National Convention in Boston next week will be only a phone call away from free legal advice.
The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press has set up a hotline for credentialed journalists — including students — to call 24 hours a day for answers to legal questions, such as what a journalist should do if he or she is detained or arrested while covering the convention or related protests.