Imagine that an institution was instituting swingeing cuts (say, 250 jobs), cutting modules and degree courses, generally making staff unhappy, reducing classroom contact time and increasing class sizes. Then try to imagine how students might feel about all that.
Now put yourself in the chair of the student newspaper's editor (print run 250). You might feel that this is a news story. After all, it's been in the local paper, the regional papers and the
Times Higher Educational Supplement, as well as on regional television.
Next, imagine that you're a university official. Do you tell the editor:
a) we respect the freedom of the press. Publish away.
b) we value students' opinions. Let's see what they think.
c) we disagree with you, but the students' union is the independent voice of the student body so we can't stop you
or
d) if you publish any of this, we'll take disciplinary action and possibly legal action against you.
I edited my union paper for a while. Many of the students' union officers strongly objected to what I printed. One accused me of working for MI5 (I'd cancelled the star-signs thing, whatever it's called), others printed a special edition rubbishing my claims (I've since been proved right). Once or twice, pressure was applied by the university when they didn't want embarrassing stories covered, but
not once did anyone ever threaten my academic career, or consult lawyers.
Any thoughts?
update: The Union Newspaper...
