Each year, student journalists fight college administrators over the right to publish student newspapers free from censorship.
News
Mo. college paper in mediation over cartoon
The editor of a student newspaper at Southwest Missouri State University did not expect an editorial cartoon on Thanksgiving to spark controversy, but a student group’s complaint that the cartoon was discriminatory has landed her in school-sponsored mediation with the group this spring. The newspaper’s adviser, also under fire by the student group, refused to be involved in the mediation process.
Court hears arguments in Governors State case
The case pits student journalists at Governors State University against a college administrator who claimed she should have the power to review a student newspaper before it was published. A ruling in favor of the student journalists would reaffirm students’ rights to free speech. A ruling in favor of the university could limit students’ rights and give college administrators the ability to institute prior review of college student publications.
The old ball and chain
Censorship of student media can take many forms, from administrators punishing student journalists for publishing a newspaper article to student governments taking away the student fee money that funds a radio station.
Media seek access to athletic director's employment contract
A newspaper and a television station sued the University of Kansas in January for access to the employment contract of athletic director Lew Perkins.
Md. high court rules coaches' contracts are public records
The University of Maryland at College Park must make public the details of its employment contracts with athletic coaches, the Court of Appeals of Maryland ruled April 15.
University foundation agrees to operate in the sunshine
The University of Georgia Foundation agreed to comply with the state open-meetings law in March, avoiding litigation threatened by state Attorney General Thurbert Baker if the foundation failed to do so.
Court orders N.Y. university to hand over biotech research files
A former radio show talk host finally received some documents he requested from Cornell University almost four years ago after a state court in February ordered the university to turn over information on its biotechnology research.
Panel: Primate research records are public
The State Records Committee ruled in January that the University of Utah must disclose documents relating to the school’s research on animals under the Government Records Access and Management Act.
La. may allow minors to use open-records law
If passed, the bill will amend the Louisiana Public Records Act to allow minors like Baker access to public records, something the current law prohibits. Barker, who helped convince a state legislator to file the bill, wants the bill to pass so that he can successfully file an open-records request as a minor, just to sweeten the icing on his birthday cake.