The College Media Advisors recently waded into an ongoing controversy at Western Oregon University, condemning the WOU administration for their response to the discovery of a security breach by Western Oregon Journal, the University’s student newspaper.  Last year, a student journalist discovered private student information, including social security numbers, publicly available on the University’s website.  The Journal editors quickly reported the security breach to WOU administrators, who nonetheless conducted an after-hours search of the Journal’s office and computers, fired the Journal advisor, and came close to expelling the student who initially discovered the breach.  After Gerry Blakney, the Journal editor, learned that the administration was planning changes to student media practices on campus without student input, he sent out a campus-wide email accusing the administration of squelching free speech on campus.  An ad-hoc panel appointed to consider Blakney’s allegations concluded that the administration had behaved improperly but not illegally.  After finishing a lengthy investigation, the College Media Advisors sent a letter of concern to WOU officials and are offering support to the Journal.

More from the Student Press Law Center
Read the WOU Committee on Free Press’s ruling and Blakney’s plea for help
Read the College Media Advisors Letter of Concern (PDF)
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