Harvard University in Massachusetts, Cornell University in New York and Taylor University in Indiana all argued this fall that campus police at each school are not subject to state open-records laws because they are not public agencies.
Tag: Winter 2003-04
Newspaper loses fight for disciplinary records
A commercial newspaper cannot access disciplinary records of students in the Vermont state college system, but it can learn the “final results” of some campus crimes, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled in September.
Texas jury finds superintendent guilty of violating open-records act
After a four-day trial and five hours of jury deliberation, Patton was sentenced to a six-month probated jail sentence and a $1,000 fine for not responding to a local newspaper’s request to see detailed expense reports on the use of district credit cards.
Supreme Court declines to hear Earnhardt autopsy photos case
The U.S. Supreme Court in December declined to hear an appeal by the University of Florida student newspaper to reconsider a lower court’s ruling that kept photographs of racecar driver Dale Earnhardt’s autopsy private.
Foundations of Secrecy
\nUnder pressure from alumni and administrators, head football coach Jim Walden resigned from Iowa State University in 1994.
Court: University board's secret meeting is legal
Student journalists got an early Halloween spook when a state district court ruled on Oct. 30 that the Oakland University board of trustees did not violate the Michigan Open Meetings Act when it held a meeting in secret.
Unfit to print?
When Hampton University’s acting President JoAnn Haysbert seized the entire press run of the student newspaper in October, student editors fought her decision by enlisting help from several professional media organizations.
On Jan. 8, all eyes on Seventh Circuit
When the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit meets on Jan. 8 to hear Hosty v. Carter, it will make a ruling that could drastically reduce the rights of college journalists.
Office leases, strings attached
Student editors at two independent college newspapers found their independence threatened this fall when school officials attempted to insert stipulations into the newspapers’ lease contracts for office space that editors say would violate their free press rights.
SPLC presents student press freedom awards
A Florida college student newspaperthat fought to keep records public and a Michigan high school reporter who fought censorship at her school were recognized for their efforts by the Student Press Law Center in November.