The Dupo High School senior's First Amendment rights to religious expression and freedom of the press had collided with the school's concerns over the First Amendment's establishment clause, which prohibits schools from promoting religion.
Tag: Spring 2004
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.
Libel suits burden three student papers
Two libel lawsuits involving student newspapers in Indiana and Minnesota were filed in the past few months, while a court dismissed a libel suit filed against a student paper in Massachusetts.
Prior review a 'straight jacket,' adviser says
The editorials drew the ire of Principal Ann Papagiotas, who ordered the newspaper’s publication date delayed until students changed the editorials to show the school in a more positive light. After the paper was finally published, adviser Pamela Hebert resigned from her advising duties because she was afraid of losing her teaching job.
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.
Private universities, newspapers clash over ads
\nControversies involving student newspapers tend to stem from editorial content, and usually involve administrators censoring a certain article or readers protesting over how events or issues are covered.
Distribution rights under examination
The U.S. Supreme Court this spring declined to hear two cases involving an individual's right to distribute literature on school grounds while students in Florida and Ohio filed lawsuits over the same issue.
In April, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a New Jersey kindergartner who attempted to pass out pencils that bore the message 'Jesus [loves] the Little Children' during a class Easter party in 1998 and then candy canes with a religious message attached at another time.
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.
Court hears alcohol ad ban appeal
A federal appeals court in January heard arguments in a case involving the University of Pittsburgh student newspaper’s challenge of Act 199, a state law that bans alcohol advertisements in student publications.
Jury rules school can punish student for writing story it deemed a threat
Union administrators suspended eighth-grader Allison Pitchford in April 2001 for writing a graphic story at home that she brought to school in which students and teachers were murdered.