Thoughts on student newspaper censorship

Endless Fuel

by Astrid Viveros*

On January 2006, La Catarina, the college newspaper I worked for, was forced to stop publishing accurate, true stories that were labeled as overly critical. I naively thought Mexican media would have an instant uproar for such atrocity. We received support from a couple of local newspapers but were criticized by many others. We were portrayed in stories and articles as young troublemakers looking for attention, students trying to spoil the good name of one of Mexico’s finest universities.

However, we brushed the criticisms away and reminded ourselves we were fighting for a right cause: freedom of speech. After a couple of weeks of reaching out to national and international media, the administration caved in and we were able to publish our newspaper again. After this incident, I can proudly say that La Catarina saw some of the best work in it’s history.

Writes of Passage

Derek Tinker writes that student magazines in Australian universities range from laddish rags to high-brow publications, but they’re all fertile breeding grounds for the journalists of tomorrow. (Continue reading)

Wichita State in dispute with student newspaper

Source: Fort Mill Times

Officials at Wichita State University have appointed a task force to review the operations of the school’s student newspaper, claiming the Sunflower suffers from sloppy journalism. (Continue reading)

Struggle Over Student Censorship Continues

Source: ACLU Southern California

A lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Southern California on behalf of student journalists in Bakersfield fighting to have their stories about gay students at their high school published in the school’s newspaper moved to deposition stage in late August.

Student fights to keep position on OSU publications board

Source: Student Press Law Center

OKLAHOMA — A copy editor at Oklahoma State University’s student paper is vowing to fight an attempt by the journalism department’s director to remove her from the school’s publications board.  (Continue Reading)

Production suspended at Howard University student newspaper

Source: The A&T Register
By Shauntel Lowe (Black college wire)

A Howard University policy board decided that the print edition of the student newspaper will not be published for the rest of the school year, but the paper will continue publishing online as the staff tries to dig itself out of a financial crisis.

Controversial cartoons prompt apology from UVA student newspaper

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Newspaper content considered misogynistic

Source: The Charlatan newspaper
by Laura Di Mascio

The University of Ottawa Engineering Students’ Society (ESS) may find itself without funding after its members published an article that critics said incites violence against women, and has raised the ire of students and university officials.

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Student newspaper pulled over nude photo

By Robert Wang
Source: GateHouse News Service, Arizona Silver Belt

CANTON, Ohio- Prompting charges of censorship, Malone College this week removed hundreds of copies of its student newspaper from campus because that edition had a photo of naked male students.

Howard’s Student Newspaper Halts Publication

By Shauntel Lowe
Source: Black College Wire

Drew Costley, a Howard senior and The Hilltop’s top editor for the 2007-08 academic year, said the action was taken because of more than $48,000 in outstanding printing costs. He also said $20,000 is missing from the paper’s account. Costley was reached in New Orleans where he was participating in alternative spring break to help Hurricane Katrina victims.