Volume 92, Issue 3 | october 2014 photo by| cooper king
spotlight page 2 freedom of speech: the first amendment has different applications for student journalists across the nation.
First amendment writes : Sarah Wells | Business Manager
R
halloween page 4
same freedoms. In ism-related laws fall tricts and administheir case, administra- under the umbrella- trators are still able tors have the ability to decision made by the to enact censorship decide what can and United States Supreme in schools if they see cannot be published, Court in 1969 in the fit, unless the newseven to the extent of Tinker v. Des Moines paper falls under the ordering journalists to Independent Com- category of “a public allow the use and dis- munity School Dist. forum for student exuse of certain words. case. It was decided pression” as defined In The Playwickian’s by the Court that “it by the 1988 Hazelsituation, editors of the can hardly be argued wood School District paper voted last year that either students v. Kuhlmeier decision. to discontinue the use or teachers shed their Because of this, publiof the word “Redskins,” constitutional right to cations like the Cedar the school’s mascot, freedom of speech at Post can still be given because they felt the the schoolhouse gate.” certain rights that alterm was racist and However, the First low more freedom no longer wanted to Amendment only pro- of expression in high print it in their publi- tects individuals from schools, unlike many cation. The editors did government suppres- other student journot publish a letter- sion of Freedom of nalism teams around to-the-editor in June Speech. School dis- the United States. that used the offensive word, and as a result, the administration suspended the adviser and journalism teacher and stripped the Editor-inChief of his/ her title for S e p t e m b e r. In general, most student journal- stand together: Cedar post showed support for the playwickian.
photo by|Sarah Wells
david lyon page 6
ecently, a Pennsylvania high school newspaper, “The Playwickian,” was prohibited by the school’s administration from making editorial decisions in regard to the use of the school mascot’s name in the paper. In response to this issue, an overwhelming amount of attention fell on First Amendment Rights for student journalists. Sandpoint High School’s “Cedar Post” has a unique opportunity in that the paper is considered a “public forum for student expression,” which is defined by the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) as “when school officials have given student editors the authority to make their own content decisions.” In simpler terms, Cedar Post has been given the ability to publish what it sees fit: articles, letters, words, et cetera. The Playwickian, and many other student newspapers, do not always have these
BASICALLY S P E A K I N G |
think ink page 8
6 19
november Dates to remember
Parent-Teacher conferences plc early release day
student journalists face freedom barriers.
Sam Diercks | Freshman
Nick Griffin| Sophomore
“A pumpkin spice latte with toilet paper whipped cream.”
“T-Rex wearing a purge mask.”
What’s the most original costume idea this year?
Genevieve price | Junior
“a loofah.”
cooper spalding | Senior
“a whitney houston centaur.”
compiled by| austin laiche
tweets for athletes
soccer state | Volleyball districts | football playoffs
twitter.com/shscedarpost issuu.com/cedarpost facebook.com/shscedarpost instagram | @cedarpost