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.
Tag: Alaska
University of Alaska Fairbanks student newspaper under investigation following sexual harassment claims
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ investigation of the student newspaper, The Sun Star, is undergoing outside review following a complaint that the newspaper is guilty of sexual harassment.
Back in session, state lawmakers introduce new legislation on cyberbullying
With the start of a new legislative session in many statehouses, cyberbullying has reappeared on the radar this month.Legislators in four states have all proposed bills that either amend the definition of "bullying" or require school boards to implement policy regarding cyberbullying and other forms of harassment.States with pending legislation on issues of bullying and cyberbullying include:
- Alaska: A proposal to amend the state's bullying law to include electronic as well as in-person communications.
- New Mexico: Another proposal to include cyberbullying as a form of bullying, as well as a requirement for school boards to implement a "cyberbullying prevention policy" by August 2013.
- New York: A proposal to revise the state's newly enacted 2012 cyberbullying law to define cyberbullying as "a repeated course of communication, or repeatedly causing a communication to be sent, by mechanical or electronic means, posting statements on the internet or through a computer network with no legitimate communication purpose which causes alarm or serious annoyance, or is likely to cause alarm or serious annoyance."
- Virginia: Clarifies the term "bullying" and requires districts to enact anti-bullying policies not just involving student-on-student conduct but also bullying of school employees by other employees.
Principal drops suit against MySpace after students come forward for making fake profile
An Alaska high school principal has dropped a lawsuit against MySpace to determine who created a fake profile page in her name after the students who made the Web site confessed.
Landmark 'Bong hits' case ends after parties agree to settlement
After nearly seven years of litigation, including adecision from the U.S. Supreme Court, the high school free speech battle knowninformally as "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" is over.
School district seeking to recover some costs from 'Bong Hits' plaintiff
The former Juneau-Douglas High School student whofought his suspension for holding up a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" bannerduring an off-campus event is being asked to reimburse the school district forabout $5,000 in court fees.
Supreme Court will hear 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' case
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Friday that it will hear a student freedom of expression case that involves a high school student’s right to display a banner at an off-campus event.
Supreme Court urged to review 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' case
School district officials in Alaska have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal court of appeals ruling concerning censorship of a student's drug-referencing banner, with a little help from former Whitewater special council Kenneth Starr.
Student official abandons plan to cut budget of student paper
Astudent government member at the University of Alaska Fairbanks rescinded hisinitiative to reduce the student newspaper's budget and said he was wrong tothink less funding would translate to better editorial content.
Suspension for 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' poster violated student's rights, court says
Ahigh school student's First Amendment rights were violated when hisprincipal suspended him for holding a ''Bong Hits 4 Jesus'' banner ata parade near his school, a unanimous three-judge panel of a federal appealscourt ruled Friday.