Congratulations on choosing “Freedom of the Press” as the focus for your 25th anniversary celebration as a viable, daily newspaper. Never before in our 200-year-plus history have we had to reminded as we do now that we must be ever-vigilant in protecting our right to speak out, to think and even to act.

Never before have I witnessed more attacks on our freedoms (and I include freedom of choice as well as expression) as I do now. Even as non-smoker, I still applaud Philip Morris on its campaign to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

The recent incident when a few NIU professors of political science (of all people) tried to stifle The Northern Star’s freedom to publish demonstrates that our vigilance must be everywhere. And don’t forget that the former NIU president who also tried in vain to suppress The Northern Star’s right to publish was also from the political science discipline.

Thank God for The Northern Star that reminds us to be ever-vigilant.

Albert Walker

Professor

Journalism