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WVU Newspaper on Presidential Candidate鈥檚 Free Speech Record
Bravo to , West Virginia University (WVU)鈥檚 student newspaper, whose editorial board over WVU presidential candidate M. Duane Nellis for free speech issues at Kansas State University (KSU), where Nellis currently serves as provost.
In 2005, FIREjoined an amicus brief denouncing the removal of student publications adviser Ronald Johnson after KSU administrators determined that the student newspaper had 鈥渜uality issues.鈥 Never mind that the paper won the at least once as well as two . Whatever the case, Johnson鈥檚 dismissal was widely recognized as a brazen attempt by public university administrators to influence the content of the paper.
The Daily Athenaeum鈥檚 editorial clearly articulated the paper鈥檚 stance on Nellis鈥檚 standing:
We remain very impressed with Nellis鈥 long academic and administrative record as well as his commitment to remain 鈥渟tudent-centered鈥 if he were president. We鈥檙e also glad he emphasizes his belief in student free speech and expression in the student forum.
But if chosen as WVU鈥檚 president, we hope he will understand the critical importance of students鈥 First Amendment rights at WVU and across the country.
Well said. We, like students at The Daily Athenaeum, hope that if Nellis is brought in as WVU president that he fully embraces the freedoms of speech and of the press afforded to WVU students鈥攄espite his past actions at Kansas State.
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