By Edward Kdonian
In Indiana, a student at New Prairie High School was forced to remove a quote from another student she had used in an article regarding the states legalization of same-sex marriage. According to an article from the Student Press Law Center, Megan Pellow a student journalist was asked to remove a quote from her article before it would be approved for publication by the administration.
In the process of writing her article on the recent legislation Megan had garnered quotes from several of her fellow students. Two of these quotes supported the recent lifting of bans on same-sex marriage and another quote was from a student who did not support the change. Before her article was approved Megan was told she had to remove the quote which spoke out against the new law. Pellow removed the quote so as not to be held accountable for any consequences.
However Megan response to this request was as follows, “I don’t believe I should have to remove the names if I have received the consent of all of those who were quoted,” she said. “It's not exactly what I wanted, but it's better than not being able to publish it at all.”
Unfortunately this was not the only violation of Megan’s rights as a journalist. The following Monday she was called into the office of Principal Greg Dittinger, who asked her to remove the names of the other students quoted, citing fear of possible bullying as his motivation. Dittinger then proceeded to a telephone request for comment on his decision.
The newspaper, The Cougar Chronicle, will be printed on November 10th without the quote from the student opposing same-sex unions, but will however have the names of the students in favor who are quoted. Megan Pellow has created a petition on change.org with the intention of forcing the administration to print her article as is. “It is clear that the motivation behind censoring this article is driven by a desire to either satisfy higher administration,” Pellow declares “or prevent students from discussing matters that the administration would rather not acknowledge.”
In the process of writing her article on the recent legislation Megan had garnered quotes from several of her fellow students. Two of these quotes supported the recent lifting of bans on same-sex marriage and another quote was from a student who did not support the change. Before her article was approved Megan was told she had to remove the quote which spoke out against the new law. Pellow removed the quote so as not to be held accountable for any consequences.
However Megan response to this request was as follows, “I don’t believe I should have to remove the names if I have received the consent of all of those who were quoted,” she said. “It's not exactly what I wanted, but it's better than not being able to publish it at all.”
Unfortunately this was not the only violation of Megan’s rights as a journalist. The following Monday she was called into the office of Principal Greg Dittinger, who asked her to remove the names of the other students quoted, citing fear of possible bullying as his motivation. Dittinger then proceeded to a telephone request for comment on his decision.
The newspaper, The Cougar Chronicle, will be printed on November 10th without the quote from the student opposing same-sex unions, but will however have the names of the students in favor who are quoted. Megan Pellow has created a petition on change.org with the intention of forcing the administration to print her article as is. “It is clear that the motivation behind censoring this article is driven by a desire to either satisfy higher administration,” Pellow declares “or prevent students from discussing matters that the administration would rather not acknowledge.”