Protecting Freedom of the Student Press in Oregon

In the wake of the infamous Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Hosty v. Carter , a dangerous decision that could allow school administrators to censor student newspaper content, some lawmakers in Oregon have decided to take action. Today, the Oregon House passed a bill that seeks to protect the student press in public high schools and universities across the state. The bill (text is without amendments) guarantees that students will be able to make all content decisions and that newspaper advisors cannot be disciplined for refusing to censor lawful content. Although the bill still must pass the Oregon Senate and be signed into law by the governor; it is a giant step forward in ensuring that the student press remains free from unjust and immoral censorship by school administrators.