Freedom of the Press -- The Victor!
In January, the Student Government Association (SGA) at Montclair State University (MSU), under the leadership of SGA President Ron Chicken, stopped funding for the MSU student newspaper, The Montclarion. The SGA took this drastic step because the newspaper had used its SGA-funded attorney, Sal Anderton, to pursue action against the SGA for holding closed meetings allegedly in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. In addition to freezing funding for the paper, the SGA also fired Anderton and demanded the newspaper use the SGA’s attorney, Aaron Easley. As part of the SGA’s requirement that the newspaper use Mr. Easley, Mr. Chicken also required the newspaper to submit legal inquiries for Easley through Mr. Chicken and was not permitted access to Mr. Easley directly. Hmmm.
Fortunately, while the dispute was being mediated, funding was unfrozen to allow for publication of the newspaper. This past week, the administration at MSU, led by MSU President Susan Cole, determined that the newspaper should not be financially dependent on the SGA because it is important for the press and the government to remain as separate and independent entities. As a result, President Cole has agreed to work with the newspaper and the SGA to separate them by the summer. In addition, Dr. Cole has committed to finding an independent funding source for the newspaper.
Continue reading ShapTalk.com: Freedom of the Press -- The Victor!
Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence,