Newspapers stolen after story about former Catholic university professor accused of child abuse by diocese

Nearly every copy of the Hilltop Views was stolen last month. Newspaper staff ran this "missing" house ad asking the community to let the newspaper know of any information about the theft. Courtesy Matthew San Martin, The Hilltop Views

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

A screenshot of the Feb. 8, 2019 edition of The Baylor Lariat. Copies of these papers were thrown away and moved during an admitted student day at Baylor University in Texas.

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

A record number of states have introduced New Voices bills in 2019

More bills protecting the First Amendment rights of student journalists are moving through statehouses than ever before, according to a Student Press Law Center tally. The 11 bills are part of a nationwide effort to pass “New Voices” bills in state legislatures, which effectively counteract and clarify the limits of the 1988 Hazelwood School District… Continue reading A record number of states have introduced New Voices bills in 2019

SPLC sends letter to Texas school district to stop censoring student media, 17 orgs sign on

Following multiple instances of censorship of an award-winning online student newspaper and the ouster of its acclaimed adviser, the Student Press Law Center asks district administrators overseeing Prosper (Texas) High School to update its publications policy in line with the First Amendment right to free press.

After three years, Anthony Mazur wins ownership of his photos and his former high school has promised to stop making students sign over their copyright

In 2015, Mazur, then a student at Flower Mound (Texas) High School, was ordered by his school administration to take down a Flickr page where he was selling school sports photos to parents. Months later, the school required all members of the yearbook class to sign an agreement that the district owns the copyright to any work they produce.