Free speech impinged at OSU

The Oregon State University Students Alliance and William Rogers, editor-in-chief of The Liberty, filed suit against four university officials and Oregon State President Ed Ray on Sept. 20.

The Students Alliance and The Liberty are seeking equal rights to speak on campus according to their attorney, Heather Gebelin Hacker of the Alliance Defense Fund.

Rockne Roll, executive director of The Liberty, called Oregon State University Police in an effort to locate seven newspaper distribution bins believed to have been stolen during winter term of 2008–09.

In their investigation, police discovered that the bins—along with 100 current issues—were removed by university officials and tossed in the mud near a dumpster.

The distribution bins of Oregon State’s only other student-run campus newspaper, The Barometer, were left untouched.

“Officials had previously asked the Students Alliance to remove the bins,” said Todd Simmons, assistant vice president of University Advancement and director of News and Communication Services at Oregon State.

Hacker called Simmons’ statement false, because The Liberty has had permission since 2005 to place the bins around campus, she said.

The case is currently in litigation.

“The defendants have been served and their answer to the complaint is due on Nov. 30,” said Katie Blechacz, media relations manager of the Alliance Defense Fund.

Vincent Beretta, managing editor of the Portland Spectator, recently heard that a stack of Spectator issues was rescued from a garbage can and restored to a distribution bin by a writer for the Rearguard at Portland State.

Beretta called the issue at Oregon State a clear violation of freedom of speech.

“For me, as a human being, having worked on something so hard and then to have it discarded is unacceptable,” Beretta said.

Joe Wirtheim, senior communication major and editor-in-chief for the Spectator, said a situation such as The Liberty‘s seems unlikely to happen to student publications at Portland State.

“Our Publications Board ensures that we maintain competent skills in writing, editing and distribution,” Wirtheim said.