Quinnipiac University punishes SPJ chapter for speaking out against censorship
According to a story in the Yale Daily News, Quinnipiac University administrators have threatened to ban the university's SPJ chapter from campus because of its support of an independent online student newspaper.
Apparently, Student Center Director Daniel W. Brown issued an "official warning" letter to SPJ chapter President Jaclyn Hirsch, saying the chapter will lose recognition status if the chapter continues to interact with the independent newspaper, the Quad News. In the story, SPJ vice president for campus chapter affairs Neil Ralston said he'll contact the chapter and discuss their options.
I mentioned the university's heavy-handed censorship last month on this blog and am astounded by the steps these administrators are taking to stifle speech and journalism on campus. That is some scary stuff.
SPJ members everywhere, all 9,000-plus, should stand up and support these students as they fight for their rights to practice journalism.