Censoring student newspapers is making the headlines in Indiana AND now in Oklahoma.
On Oct. 16, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent a letter to the president of Indiana University, criticizing the firing of the Indiana Daily Student newspaper adviser because he refused to censor the student newspaper, AND then ordering the newspaper to stop printing.
Fire wrote in the letter to IU: “As a public university bound by the First Amendment, IU may not retaliate against an editorially independent student publication for resisting the university’s unconstitutional censorship efforts. There can be no question that administrative actions against student media in response to what they publish violate any notion of free expression.”
In response, the Indianapolis Star reported that alumni had pulled $1 million in donations.
The University of Central Oklahoma received a similar letter on Monday after UCO banned the 122-year-old Vista student newspaper from printing.
The letter details problems the students faced since 2024 when the administrators “engaged in a campaign designed to suppress negative content in The Vista.” At one point, the university stopped the newspaper from using private funds to print the paper, but then said the newspaper could use the funds but only for a promotional magazine for prospective students and donors. To keep the newspaper from publishing, the university removed the newspaper racks around campus.
The newspaper also faced problems with its adviser, who encouraged the students not to report on the university’s interference. When the students did report on it, the adviser and another administrator demoted, fired and refused to hire staff members who spoke out against the print ban, the letter said.
In a press release, FIRE said, “As a public university bound by the First Amendment, UCO simply may not meddle with the editorial choices of an independent newspaper.”
FIRE Program Officer Dominic Colleti, who wrote the letter to UCO, condemned the actions.
“UCO’s campaign against its student media represents a betrayal of its obligation to protect a free press,” he said. “And it joins an ignoble list of universities willing to prioritize its prestige over press freedom.”
The Northwestern News joins in condemning any administration action at any public university that impacts the freedom of the student press to do its job.
We are also appreciative of our administrators, who understand the role our newspaper plays at NWOSU and support us in accomplishing that every week. Thank you.