Tag: Spring 2002

KENTUCKY

-- Gov. Paul Patton signed legislation in April establishing a statewide college and university fire safety education fund and clarifying guidelines for reporting fires.

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The "Michael Minger/Priddy fire prevention fund," was named for Michael Minger, who died in a September 1998 arson fire at Murray State University, and Michael Priddy, whom the fire seriously injured.

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The new law clarifies guidelines in the current Minger Act on reporting fires to the state fire marshal, defining "immediately" as within two hours of the discovery of a fire or fire threat.

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The law sets a fine of $1,000 to $2,000 for each day a reporting violation occurs.

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LAW:

Ky.

In some rare instances, an administrator stands by a student's right to free speech, in keeping with the spirit of the First Amendment.

NEW JERSEY

Security on Campus Senior Vice President Daniel Carter reported progress this spring on Clery Act investigations by the U.S.

WASHINGTON

NEBRASKA

Controversial editorial page content in several college newspapers early this year resulted in heavy criticism and, in some cases, calls for censorship.

In light of the widespread censorship and restrictions placed on them by administrators, sometimes student journalists who seek free expression are left with no other choice but to ignore school-sponsored publications altogether and establish independent newspapers.

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The advent of the Internet and widely available desktop publishing software has made the creation of independent student newspapers easier, but the task of distributing and promoting them can still be daunting for students in restrictive school districts.

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Three students at Ashland High School in Massachusetts had difficulty getting their underground publication The Real Deal off the ground, but their perseverance at attempting to distribute the paper paid off.

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Principal Shelley Marcus Cohen clamped down on distribution when editors Jon Rosenblum, Jon Turner and Alan Weene handed out the first issue in December.

COLORADO

GEORGIA