The ability of college media content to remain independent and uncensored may once again be in jeopardy.

A controversial 1988 Supreme Court decision that gave high school administrators and principals the ability to censor student newspapers may soon apply to colleges and universities.

The Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier decision, which limited high school publications by allowing administrators to censor the content, currently is being reviewed, the Northern Star reported in a Nov. 18 article.

In June 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, reheard a 2001 case involving censorship at Governors State University and sided with the university.

The courts found there was not enough clarity in the 1988 Hazelwood case, as it gave college students the impression they had complete protection from censorship and supervision prior to the view of university officials.

The student journalists who originally sued Governors State in 2001 are again filing a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case and provide final clarity to the Hazelwood decision.

The simple fact that a case such as this is even being heard and the issue is once again being raised is completely ridiculous.

College media should remain entirely free from censorship.

The ban on high school content, where a possibility for tighter control over student-produced content exists, makes much more sense than one on college media.

College campuses traditionally have been more liberal, open-minded places and therefore leaders in producing independent thought and free-thinking ideas.

These ideas should not be censored and taken away.

Students should have the right to express their ideas and opinions in a free, open forum.

Fortunately for NIU students, censorship most likely will not happen.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit also ruled the main question for an administrator in deciding whether he or she has the right to censor content is based on whether the institution has created a “designated public forum” in which students have been given the authority to make all content decisions.

The Northern Star, for example, theoretically qualifies within this realm.

However, free speech in the media is not the only thing being jeopardized by this case. There also is a possibility administrators would be able to censor student groups and other speakers on campus.

While the outcome of the issue is yet to be seen, many should begin to fight now for freedoms they would like to keep in the future.

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