Table of Contents
Washington State Representative Champions Students’ Press Freedom
The Student Press Law Center reports that a Washington state representative is sponsoring a bill to protect the press freedom of high school and college students and to forbid wrongful punishment of newspaper advisors. HB 1307 would protect student media outlets even when they are financially supported by the school or connected to class work.
This bill would make Washington the only other state besides California to pass a law protecting college press freedom.
Washington and California’s legislative efforts follow the Hosty v. Carter decision in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which applied precedent governing high school speech to the collegiate press, giving universities more regulatory power over college media. You can read FIRE’s amicus brief in that case here.
Recent Articles
FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.
Campus encampment bans rarely violate the First Amendment. Here’s why.
Does the First Amendment allow public universities to ban students from erecting tents and camping on campus?
University provosts have bleak outlook on free expression in higher ed
College administrators are worried about the trajectory of free speech in higher ed.
With colleges punishing student protesters, campus due process is more important than ever
Administrators must provide fair, consistent procedures for students accused of misconduct.
Free Speech in (college) crisis times: Thoughts and resources — First Amendment News 421
First Amendment News is a weekly blog and newsletter about free expression issues by Ronald K. L. Collins and is editorially independent from FIRE.