Hahs embraces college free press act

The College Campus Press Act would protect collegiate media from having university administrators say, "Stop the presses." The Illinois General Assembly is moving to grant greater freedom and protections to the college media after a court case nearly derailed it. The measure passed the Illinois Senate 57 ? 0 and is headed to the State House.

The bill is in direct response to Hosty v. Carter according to the Society of Professional Journalists and a spokeswoman for the bill's sponsor State Senator Susan Garrett.

NEIU President Sharon Hahs supports the principals of the bill. She said, "I can embrace the principles embodied in the College Campus Press Act currently under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly.?

"The Independent should not be subject to administrative review if it is to fulfill its mission of contributing to informed discourse.? NEIU values a free, open and civil exchange of ideas and The Independent contributes to that very important dialogue."

In October 2000 Dean of Students Patricia Carter at Governors State University in Illinois told the publisher of the Innovator to stop the presses because she took issue with the paper's content. That led to a legal battle that ended up just short of the US Supreme Court.

The Illinois 7th Appellate (Federal) Court said that, under certain circumstances, when school media is part of an academic exercise and not a wholly student run "public forum" that university administrations can have control over the college press.

The bill would declare all campus media a "public forum" and would restrict prior review by administrators and protect advisors to college media outlets. The designation of a "public forum" vs. an academic experience was a key distinction in the Illinois Court's

The Illinois News Broadcasters Association and the Headline Club, [the Chicago Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists], support the measure. In a joint message to their members they said, "SPJ and the Headline Club support this legislation for defending collegiate student press rights." And encouraged their members to lobby for the measure.

State Senator Iris Martinez whose district borders the main campus and incorporates El Centro said, "I'm thrilled I voted yes on that."