Theft of free-distribution newspapers by those who object to the newspaper's content is a frequent problem for the college student media. Although the SPLC believes that newspaper thieves can be prosecuted in most jurisdictions under existing theft laws, in 1994 Maryland became the first state to pass a law explicitly criminalizing the taking of free newspapers.
Newspapers stolen after story about former Catholic university professor accused of child abuse by diocese
TEXAS - Nearly every copy of The Hilltop Views, the student newspaper of St. Edward’s University in Austin, was stolen last month after the paper ran a front-page story about a former professor accused by the Catholic Church of sexual abuse in the 1980s. The paper lost about 2,000 copies, and believe the front-page story… Continue reading Newspapers stolen after story about former Catholic university professor accused of child abuse by diocese
Student tour guides threw away, moved newspapers in “one-time” incident at Baylor University
TEXAS — Student tour guides at Baylor University in Texas threw away and moved some student newspapers in what a university spokesperson called a “one-time” incident. During a prospective student day in early February, copies of The Baylor Lariat were moved in two buildings at the direction of an admissions staffer, according to a statement… Continue reading Student tour guides threw away, moved newspapers in “one-time” incident at Baylor University
Police are investigating stolen student newspapers in South Carolina
SOUTH CAROLINA — About 500 copies of The Daily Gamecock, the University of South Carolina student newspaper, disappeared on Feb. 25. Gamecock staff first learned of the theft after a student sent the paper’s news editor a picture of two people walking out of the library with stacks of newspapers. Several other buildings were targeted, including… Continue reading Police are investigating stolen student newspapers in South Carolina
Hundreds of issues of the Maroon-News stolen, members of swim team found responsible
NEW YORK — Hundreds of copies of the Maroon-News, the student newspaper at Colgate University — which contained a front page story about the men's swimming and diving team being suspended for hazing — have been stolen. The paper was distributed on the Hamilton campus on Oct. 18, and the next day stacks were missing… Continue reading Hundreds of issues of the Maroon-News stolen, members of swim team found responsible
450 issues of The OU Daily stolen — writer thinks it’s attempted censorship of front page sexual harassment story
OKLAHOMA — An estimated 450 issues of The OU Daily were stolen on Sept. 17 from multiple locations across the University of Oklahoma Norman campus. The stolen issue featured a front page article about sexual harassment allegations against a tenured drama professor who remains at the university but resigned in August from his position as director of the School of… Continue reading 450 issues of The OU Daily stolen — writer thinks it’s attempted censorship of front page sexual harassment story
Tennessee and Washington student newspapers both report thefts after covering controversies
In less than two weeks, two student newspapers on opposite ends of the country have had hundreds of newspapers stolen from campus newsstands.
Hundreds of student newspapers vanish at Kansas community college, staff suspects theft, censorship
Newspapers disappear from Virginia Tech campus after story updating murder trial
Somewhere between 900 to 1,200 newspapers were stolen from the Virginia Tech campus last week after a seemingly routine update to a local murder trial involving two former university students.
Missing
In the months since the 2016-17 school year began, a number of college newspapers have struggled with the theft or vandalism of their campus publications.