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THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM Issue 100, Volume 75
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Law to identify definition of journalist By Jared Luck THE DAILY COUGAR A bill proposed in the Maryland House of Representatives is putting the spotlight on the issue of whether collegiate journalists should be granted shield law protection to prevent them from having to reveal confidential sources. The shield law allows reporters the right to refuse to reveal their sources gathered while working on a news story. According to the Student Law Press Center, the Maryland bill is the response to an attempt by an attorney
in Illinois to subpoena the syllabus, grades, notes, e-mails, expense receipts and other documents from a class at Northwestern University. The class is part of the Medill Innocence Project, in which students use investigative reporting to research old cases to look for signs that people were wrongfully convicted of crimes. The bill’s sponsor, Sandy Rosenberg, hopes that other states will pass similar laws. However, last summer Texas passed the Free Flow of Information Act (FFIA) — its version of a shield law. The Austin-American Statesman
reported that the Act defines a journalist as someone who gathers and disseminates information for “a substantial portion” of their livelihood or “for substantial financial gain.” Unpaid college journalists are therefore not protected. Michael Tate Barkley, assistant professor and practicing attorney at Bain & Barkley, said the state should broaden its definition of “journalist.” “College journalists participate in journalism and they’re serving their identified role under the First Amendment just like a newspaper or broadcast news magazine is,” Barkley said. “In my mind, I don’t
make the distinction — just because somebody’s a student doesn’t mean they’re not practicing journalism.” But with the FFIA being passed so recently, Barkley said, the political incentive to pass additional legislation probably no longer exists. Like in Texas, a proposed federal shield law may also exclude collegiate journalists. The bill, also called the Free Flow of Information Act, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in December of last year. Texas Sen. John Cornyn is a member of this group. Although an outspoken supporter of open government, according to the
White to work on education State’s economy, energy and environment also on Democrat’s agenda
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see LAW, page 3
No rivalry between UHPD, Rice cops Officer says UHPD communicates with other law enforcement to solve crimes
By Patricia Estrada THE DAILY COUGAR Former Mayor Bill White appears to have a clear path to November’s gubernatorial ballot. White leads Farouk Shami in the Democratic primary 59 percent to 12 percent, according to the Feb. 23 Public Policy Polling survey. The primary election is scheduled for March 2. White, a businessman who served as deputy secretary of energy in the Clinton administration from 1993-95, said his primary focus if elected governor would be on improving education in Texas. “The most important business of the state of Texas is educating our young people,” White said via e-mail. “From preschool through graduate school, I will work to increase access to highquality preschool programs for all children to enhance the quality of public education in urban, rural, large and small school districts so our students will graduate. (I also plan) to make post-high school education at vocational schools, community colleges and universities affordable for Texas families.” White said he decided to run for governor because he felt state leaders have not focused on improving education for Texans, therefore hurting the state’s economy. “For too long, we have lagged behind other states in developing our greatest asset — our people
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Cornyn had been one of several committee members with concerns that shielding too many people, such as bloggers and citizen journalists, could be dangerous to national security. Cornyn’s offices did not respond to numerous attempts for comment. The bill is awaiting a vote by the U.S. Senate. The ambiguity of the state of media protection has left many journalists in an awkward situation. They could be held in contempt of
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By John Brannen THE DAILY COUGAR
COURTESY OF BILL WHITE FOR TEXAS
Former mayor of Houston Bill White said he wants to improve education in the state and hopes Texans will hold the state’s government more accountable, particularly when it come to spending taxpayers’ money. — to compete in the 21st century economy,” he said via e-mail. “About one-third of our students drop out of high school, which lowers their lifetime earnings potential. And many of our students who do finish high school cannot afford to attend college because of skyrocketing tuition rates. “Our younger generations are not achieving the same educational levels as our older generation, and that trend must be reversed.”
White also believes it is time people together and get things for Texans to hold the government done with transparency, respect accountable, and he will work on and accountability. … I’ll take the improving the same approach to state’s economy Austin.” Upcoming profiles by “squeez(ing) As mayor, White Thursday: Republican Rick Perry the most out of implemented every dollar.” several programs Friday: Republican Debra Medina “I will be a — finding governor who puts the future of Hurricane Katrina evacuees refuge Texas first and makes government and eventually homes, SAFEClear accountable to taxpayers again,” Programs, which quickly removed he said. “I know how to work with stalled vehicles from freeways, people from diverse backgrounds and political perspectives to bring see WHITE, page 3
Despite a seasoned sports rivalry between the Cougars and the Rice Owls, UH Police Chief Malcolm Davis and Rice Chief Bill Taylor often call upon each other’s departments for information and advice. Davis said this communication between the two universities came into play Jan. 22. A UH professor reported missing a general use Panasonic Toughbook owned by the University on Jan. 22 at around 2 p.m. Professors rather than students predominantly use the computer. About three hours later, UHPD received a call from Rice PD. “They told us they had a suspicious person call. ( That person) was not affiliated with Rice, so (a Rice officer) gave him a criminal trespass warning,” UHPD Assistant Chief Brad Wigtil said. “As he started packing up his things, the officer’s suspicions were aroused because students typically wouldn’t have a Toughbook.” After further inspection, the Rice officer saw a UH identification see POLICE, page 5