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American University: Denial of Right to Videotape Public EventsCase Materials- "Student Journalist at American University Punished for Videotaping Public Speech by Tipper Gore," FIRE Press Release, August 12, 2002: Despite nationwide attention, American University (AU) in Washington, DC is denying a student journalist both free speech and due process for trying to tape a public speech by Tipper Gore. Rather than addressing the appalling mistreatment of the student, administrators used the incident as an opportunity to prosecute their frequent critic
- "American University Prosecutes Student Critic; Tramples Free Speech and Due Process," July 22, 2002: FIRE is defending the rights of Ben Wetmore, a student at American University (AU) in Washington, DC. Wetmore publishes a website critical of AU President Benjamin Ladner. AU police wrongly detained Wetmore for "possession of stolen property" after he videotaped a public speech by Tipper Gore. In addition to being roughed up by campus officers, Wetmore was convicted in a trial that denied an impartial hearing or an appeal. FIRE has secured legal representation for this undergraduate.
- "FIRE’s Response to American University’s ‘Statement from Vice President of Campus Life Gail Short Hanson Regarding an Incident Involving AU Student Ben Wetmore’," July 18, 2002
- "FIRE Letter to American University Board of Trustees, July 16, 2002," July 16, 2002
- "Statement from Vice President of Campus Life Gail Short Hanson Regarding an Incident Involving AU Student Ben Wetmore," July 12, 2002
- "Letter from American University Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Faith C. Leonard to FIRE, June 26, 2002," June 26, 2002
- "FIRE Letter to American University President Benjamin Ladner, June 11, 2002," June 11, 2002
Media Coverage- "Tipper Tape," Charles Freund, Reason, November 1, 2002
- "Outrage of the Week," Kathleen Reeder, SheThinks.org, October 17, 2002
- "AU Student Punished for Taping Tipper Gore," Lou Marano, United Press International, August 21, 2002
- "Student Plans Lawsuit Over Tipper Gore Video Flap," Jessica Cantelon, CNSNews, August 14, 2002
- "On Student Rights," Greg Lukianoff, The Washington Times, August 4, 2002
- "Free Press Questioned After American U. Incident," Brett Zongker, University Wire, July 29, 2002
- "Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly on American University," July 25, 2002
- "Fox News’ Brit Hume on American University," July 23, 2002
- "Group Fights for Student Caught Taping Tipper Gore Speech," Jonathan Polland, Fox Newswire, July 23, 2002
- "Fox Special Report With Brit Hume," FOX News Channel, July 23, 2002
- "Student Gadfly Runs Afoul of American U.," Amy Argetsinger, Washington Post, July 22, 2002
- "The Rules of Justice Are Different When the Court's on Campus," Samar Farah, The Christian Science Monitor, May 16, 2002
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