University responds to student media
November 7, 2019
On Nov. 6 The Observer released a story titled, “The Observer stands for a free and unregulated press.”
Today, student journalists and supporters stood outside of Lind, Bouillon and the SURC protesting against administrative regulation and censorship, according to The Observer’s Facebook page. Protesters handed out newspapers, chanted and talked about the story released yesterday.
The university released a statement earlier today regarding the recent events with student media.
“Central Washington University in no way censors its students,” the statement said.
“As part of this learning and teaching opportunity, on occasion, we have requested that the topics or subjects of an interview be provided in advance in order to allow the person being interviewed an opportunity to prepare informed answers. The intent is not to require that all questions be submitted in advance but rather to offer some context for the interview so the person being interviewed can provide informed responses,” the statement said.
Later in the statement, the university said CWU leadership has spoken with ASCWU President Jasmin Washington who is scheduling a forum with student media to discuss the issues.
Student government posted a statement on Facebook and Twitter.
“The Associated Students of Central Washington University officers work to represent all students equally and fairly and to ensure that their voices are heard,” the statement said. “ASCWU respects and appreciates that student media has exercised that voice.”
In today’s statement, the university says they requested topics or subjects in advance but as the screenshots below show, the university has said interview questions need to be approved prior to scheduling interviews.
Paula McMinn • Dec 26, 2019 at 1:32 pm
This seems a microcosm of our federal administration. There are moves everywhere to limit the right of cities and municipalities, county and state governments to limit the power of the press and the people they report to. Take Denton, Texas for example; it tried to protect its community from the very real health risks and other dangers of fracking and the fossil fuel industry state controlled government changed the laws so that municipalities were weakened in their ability to protect their citizens. Our current federal administration is controlled by those same interests. Look at Puerto Rico; our industry controlled administration is withholding aid and not medical support in order to bully and force Puerto Rico to become the methane hub of the Caribbean. (See EarthJustice, Summer, 2019) What your university is trying to do is terribly wrong. Don’t let them back you down.
Bob Adams • Nov 8, 2019 at 7:33 pm
When administrators try to twist the truth, truth most often wins out. What’s wrong with administrators simply saying we made a mistake. Everybody respects the truth.
Tom Eblen • Nov 7, 2019 at 3:52 pm
This is total baloney. The administration has no business trying to regulate how student journalists interact with faculty and others on campus. It sounds as if university administrators need a basic civics lesson, beginning with the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.