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Liberty on receiving end of censorhip
On-campus publication, The Liberty, has their distribution bins removed from campus
Rebecca Johnson
Issue date: 6/24/09 Section: News
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The Liberty, a conservative, independent publication on-campus, had several of their fixed distribution bins removed by the university, and the organization feels they are being treated unfairly.
Will Rogers, the current editor-in-chief of The Liberty, said when the bins were recovered some of them had been damaged.
The Liberty was first published in February of 2002 and comes out with an issue every month. In all, seven bins were removed in winter term.
The university has stated that any kind of printed publication has restrictions on its methods of distribution.
"Facility services … has a policy that anybody who is distributing printed news type media that they confine (fixed distribution bins) to a few places on-campus where there is an awful lot of traffic, one of those being the Memorial Union … but beyond that we asked that they don't have fixed distribution bins on-campus …" said Todd Simmons, spokesperson for OSU.
The Daily Barometer is the only publication exempt from this policy, as it is considered the official newspaper of OSU. Rogers believes this policy is not only unfair, but considers it a form of censorship.
"The thing that we find frustrating is that they got no standard for what is or is not an off-campus publication," he said. "So even if we wanted to comply, there is no way for us to comply with it."
"They have set this policy that says we can't be there, but they don't have any rules on how we can fix it."
Rogers said he is currently trying to find a way to work with OSU to be allowed to distribute The Liberty in a way that would comply with university policy, but said he has come up against a brick wall.
"(OSU) hasn't been very cooperative so we're in talks with other people right now to see what can be done," Rogers said.
Simmons said the university is not trying to squelch the distribution of the newspaper, only the fixed distribution bins on-campus.
"In any case, (The Liberty) is considered in that group with all the other media, from the Eugene Weekly to Prism, that would want to be distributed across campus in fixed distribution bins and have to keep those bins confined to a couple of areas," Simmons said.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
former student
posted 6/29/09 @ 7:41 PM PST
Just curious, why did OSU decide to remove them now? Those bins have been on campus for at least the last 7 years? Is the university really worried about these becoming some sort of dangerous obstruction for pedestrians? I think not. (Continued…)
Eric Walkingshaw
posted 6/30/09 @ 6:57 PM PST
This headline reeks of sensationalism.
Also, I want to know more about that picture. Photo contributed by who? Did the University really just dump the bins haphazardly beside the railroad tracks? This information is important to its interpretation and omitting it makes the article seem careless, or worse, dishonest. (Continued…)
nemesis101
Doug Allchin
posted 7/03/09 @ 5:40 PM PST
Guess this guy isn't an English major? lol
Ben
posted 7/14/09 @ 9:46 PM PST
Yes, that is how the bins were found I got a call from Will Rogers asking me to come to 35th and Washington. 35th and Washington you can drive by it and see the dumpsters for yourself. (Continued…)
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