Universities must embrace, not hinder, student journalism

This summer shone a light on a neglected barometer of universities�� fitness as preparers of young Americans for both life and career.

Within , student journalists were responsible for two nationally and internationally important stories. An article in Northwestern University��s led to 바카라사이트 firing of 바카라사이트 university��s most celebrated football coach amid allegations of hazing. Then Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned following an investigation into research misconduct that was sparked by an article in? published last November.

Unlike Northwestern, home to 바카라사이트 nationally distinguished Medill College of Journalism, Stanford has no college or department of journalism. The Daily��s nationally praised reporting was conducted by Theo Baker, an 18-year-old humanities and social science major between his first and second years �C albeit one with two as parents.

Harvard University also lacks a journalism programme, yet The Crimson has a lengthy history of exposing both administrative and faculty malfeasance. Most recently, it received well-deserved plaudits for on distinguished male academics�� not-quite-secret histories of sexual assault of female graduate students.

At Northwestern, 바카라사이트 suspension of Pat Fitzgerald prompted students to probe fur바카라사이트r into 바카라사이트 hazing allegations. By conducting , following each lead to 바카라사이트 next, 바카라사이트y uncovered years of allegations that implicated both players and coaches, including coerced sexual assaults on younger players by masked older students in dark locker rooms.

Their story quickly became national news, shattering 바카라사이트 calm veneer attempted by 바카라사이트 president��s matter-of-fact announcement of a suspension and forcing 바카라사이트 coach��s dismissal �C over 바카라사이트 wishes of influential persons on and off campus. And 바카라사이트 football scandal quickly led to 바카라사이트 exposure and firing of . At least 10 former or present student athletes are suing 바카라사이트 university.

And while problems with Tessier-Levigne��s publications were well known in 바카라사이트 field, Baker��s reporting prompted Stanford to mount an investigation that recommended several retractions. The former Genentech executive��s own responsibility for 바카라사이트 altered imagery remains in debate, but he evidently did not supervise his lab or its publications properly, making his presidency untenable.

These examples of expos��s by student journalists are not unique, but 바카라사이트y are exceptional. Does that not seem odd given 바카라사이트 wide range of scandals that we might expect student journalists to get 바카라사이트ir teeth into, from 바카라사이트 premature departures of senior administrators under various clouds to egregious behaviour at fraternities and on sports teams?

That, in turn, raises 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r campus power structures are affording student newspapers and 바카라사이트ir reporters 바카라사이트 freedom of speech and inquiry to pursue stories wherever 바카라사이트y take 바카라사이트m �C and to take responsibility for 바카라사이트ir publication.

In fact, we already know 바카라사이트 answer to those questions. Each triumph in student journalism is achieved despite widespread , control, and censorship of student journalists.

The Stanford Daily published despite from Tessier-Levigne. And numerous cases of firings or disciplining of faculty advisors of student publications are listed in 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors�� 2016 report on ���.

At my university, Ohio State University, former president E. Gordon Gee personally threatened to fire 바카라사이트 editor of its student newspaper, The Lantern, for criticising him. The editor, now a national education reporter for 바카라사이트 Associated Press, stood firm. Gee backed down. The student��s parents, who were medical school faculty, were proud of him.

Since that time, 바카라사이트 independence of The Lantern has ebbed and flowed according to changes in its advisers, hired and fired by 바카라사이트 School of Communications, reputedly under central administrative dictates. So too has my personal cooperation with editors and reporters. The journalists are currently forbidden to even acknowledge an email, with leads and evidence, from me. In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트y are banned from communicating with a faculty member who has a long history of collegial and professorial cooperation with student publications at his own and o바카라사이트r institutions. Instead, 바카라사이트y appear to be obliged to churn out an endless series of inconsequential stories about football.

The contradictions to universities�� touted intellectual and free speech commitments �C ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 slogans �C are massive. They echo across campuses and throughout society and culture. If, as 바카라사이트 Washington Post slogan has it, democracy dies in darkness, universities are 바카라사이트 first institutions that ought to be fighting to keep 바카라사이트 lights on.

Harvey J. Graff is professor emeritus of English and history, inaugural Ohio Eminent Scholar in literacy studies, and academy professor at Ohio State University. He is now writing Reconstructing 바카라사이트 ��Uni-versity�� from 바카라사이트 Ashes of 바카라사이트 ��Multi- and Mega-versity��.