Student SPJ chapter threatened

Hey all.

Elissa Sonnenberg, our adviser, sent me this story. It's pretty interesting and definitely is something to talk about. What do you all think? Are you outraged? Is the university within its rights?

Students, administrators squabble at Quinnipiac University

Larry Smith | The Associated Press

HAMDEN, Conn. -- A dispute between student journalists and the administration at Quinnipiac University is drawing national attention after officials cut off access to athletes and coaches and threatened to expel the school's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The disagreement began last year when the university ordered the student staff of the university's newspaper, The Chronicle, not to post news online until it appeared in the weekly newspaper. Editors also objected to filing interview requests through the university public relations department.

Quinnipiac said the newspaper will reorganize to become independent, but most of its editors left last spring over the dispute and formed The Quad News, an online newspaper unaffiliated with Quinnipiac. University officials instructed administrators, staff, faculty, coaches and athletes not to talk to the new newspaper. Quinnipiac continues to sponsor The Chronicle, now primarily led by underclassmen.

"It was really difficult," said Quad News editor Jason Braff. "We didn't really back down. We wanted to get all sides of the story."

Last month, Quinnipiac also threatened to expel the student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists after it allowed some Quad News members to hold a meeting in a room on campus reserved by the chapter. University officials The Quad News is not allowed to use university facilities because it not an sanctioned student group.

The threat prompted the SPJ's national office to express concern.

"We hope that you will realize that banning a student organization for actions that are not only legal but well-intentioned would send a message across the country that the university leadership does not support the principles of free speech, free press and free association that are outlined in the First Amendment," the national group said in a letter to Quinnipiac officials.

Neil Ralston, SPJ vice president of campus chapter affairs, said he had not been contacted by the administration. Ralston said he regularly hears of universities trying to control what student publications write.

"This is the first time a school has threatened one of our chapters," Ralston said.