Censorship destroys freedoms

editorial cartoon by Monica Schwarze
editorial cartoon by Monica Schwarze

A hands-off policy will be followed by University administrators, staff, students and faculty (other than the newspaper adviser(s) who serve as teachers) concerning story generation, writing, editing and distribution of the Campus Times.

The Campus Times will not be subject to censorship by University officials or agents unless a specific issue is deemed to include contents of a libelous or otherwise illegal nature.

—Campus Times Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics for the Campus Times ensures that the student newspaper enjoys the same right to a free press as all media. Yet, this is not always the case at the University of La Verne. Such guidelines are needed since ULV is a private institution and it is often difficult to be shielded by the Constitution. However, censorship on campus is a continual and growing problem for student media, especially the Campus Times.

On Oct. 7, the Afrikan-American Student Alliance (AASA) and the Associated Students Federation (ASF) co-sponsored a rally in support of the Million Man march. This event was openly advertised all over campus and students were urged to attend, but photographers from the Campus Times and Lambda were barred from taking photographs at the rally. Although the Times photographer was not asked to leave, she was asked to refrain from taking pictures, then to go put her camera away and return, if she wanted to attend. While we respect the fact that the Nation of Islam, who had speakers at the rally, does not feel that media attention is suitable at lectures, this should have been made public prior to the rally.

The Campus Times has also had previous instances of censorship on campus. Weekly, a staff writer attends ASF meetings, but on Oct. 4, she was asked to leave so that the ASF could discuss “personnel problems.” While personnel issues are a legitimate reason for a closed session, the session should be held at either the beginning or the end of the meeting, so that any other business might be discussed publicly. However, ASF not only discussed personnel issues in their closed session, they also discussed Homecoming and other events that are of interest to students and that should be covered. The Brown Act, which is law in California, permits private meetings and authorizes closed sessions only for matters affecting national security, personnel matters and the discussion of pending lawsuits. When ASF asked the reporter to leave, it violated this clause.

Last semester, a Campus Times photographer was asked to stop photographing emotional scenes at the Senior Retreat at Mile High Pines. The only reason given for this was a fear that if there was a photographer documenting the event, the seniors would not feel comfortable enough to open up and show their true emotions about leaving ULV. But what is better to show in a student newspaper than real students displaying honest emotion?

Also, last semester the Campus Times experienced perhaps the worst form of censorship; a stack of newspapers in the Student Center was thrown into the trash by a student. This student was not angered by the way something was covered in the newspaper; in contrast, he was angered about an event that did not receive coverage. While we believe it is important to cover all news events on campus, we cannot cover everything all the time. Our lack of coverage was an honest mistake and did not deserve such a harsh form of censorship.

The Campus Times Code of Ethics and basic rights as a newspaper are continually being violated on this campus. Not only are people outside the staff dictating what can and cannot be covered, instances of paper trashing are becoming more common.

Censorship has no place in the media, especially on a university campus. College is a time when students should explore diverse ideas and new ways of thinking. Censorship does nothing but impede this process.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

—First Amendment to the United States Constitution

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

Monica Schwarze, Features Editor
Monica Schwarze

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