This opinion piece reflects the point of view of the writer. Cameren Boatner is a reporting intern for the Student Press Law Center. Students have a right to know when a crime occurs in their backyard – especially when the crime is sexual violence. But a law intended to protect victims is leaving the public… Continue reading Opinion: Marsy’s Law needs to be amended to keep the public better informed on crime
Tag: sexual assault
How student journalists fought FERPA, and how you can too
If you’ve ever requested documents from your school through open records law and been denied or had substantial information redacted, there’s a good chance you’ve dealt with The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. This privacy law is a common barrier for student journalists looking to dig deeper into what’s happening at their… Continue reading How student journalists fought FERPA, and how you can too
Open-government advocates defend public’s right of access to campus disciplinary cases involving violent crimes
Editor's Note: The Student Press Law Center signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief from the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida. This story was originally published by the Brechner Center. Read or download the full brief. Public universities should release records showing how they punish students found liable for committing serious… Continue reading Open-government advocates defend public’s right of access to campus disciplinary cases involving violent crimes
July 2018: Reporting on sexual assault
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Sexual assault is one of the hardest topics to report on, but also one of the most consequential. On this month's podcast, we talk with students and legal experts about how to find and use records to cover this issue. “The System” by Indiana Daily Student: http://bit.ly/2L8ebUf “How universities do, and don't, inform the public… Continue reading July 2018: Reporting on sexual assault
Criticized, sued, and overcharged: Are barriers to reporting on sexual assault surmountable for student journalists?
Student journalists face a multitude of challenges when it comes to reporting on allegations of sexual assault and harassment on their campuses.
How you can use public records to cover campus sexual assault
Learn what kinds of records you can look for, where to request them from and what to do if you run into problems. We also show some of the resources available on our website.
Tune in for our second webinar in the #MeToo series to learn how to use public records to report on campus sexual assault
We're hosting another webinar live on our YouTube channel about reporting on sexual assaults on campus on Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. ET. This discussion will be focused on open records. We'll be answering your questions about what kind of records you can look for, where to request them from and what to do if you… Continue reading Tune in for our second webinar in the #MeToo series to learn how to use public records to report on campus sexual assault
Utah newspaper might appeal decision to allow colleges to shield names of students accused of sexual assault
Representatives from the colleges said that releasing the names of accused students could create a chilling effect for reporting sexual assaults, but public access advocates said the public interest outweighs that consequence.
Open-government advocates urge Montana court to release athlete disciplinary appeal records to author Krakauer
The best-selling author of Missoula is seeking access to files indicating why the state overturned a campus disciplinary board's findings in a high-profile sexual assault case involving a University of Montana athlete. But the state argues that granting Jon Krakauer's request will put the state in violation of federal privacy laws and place $263 million in federal funding at risk.
How to cover your university’s annual campus crime report: A guide for college media
Colleges were required to release their annual Clery Act campus crime report on Oct. 1. Here are some tips on finding the best stories.