Theft of student newspapers under investigation at California state university
March 2, 2010 by donal brown
Filed under 1st Amendment News, Freedom of Speech / Press, News & Opinion
The latest issue of California State University Northridge’s Daily Sundial contained a column asking fraternities and sororities to host more fundraisers for public causes. Someone at the university responded by stealing more than 2,000 copies of the newspaper from newsstands. -db
Student Press Law Center
March 1, 2010
By Laura Dobler
Police at California State University – Northridge are investigating the theft of more than 2,000 copies of the student newspaper from several newsstands across campus.
Melissa Lalum, faculty adviser for the Daily Sundial, said 6,500 copies of the Thursday, Feb. 25 issue were printed. The issue contained a controversial column asking members of the Greek community to host more philanthropy events and fewer social events, she said.
“It is your age-old (column), ‘come on Greeks we know what your real motive is for joining, it’s not philanthropy, it’s partying and you could more to help,’ ” Lalum said about the column written by Kimbery Kreiger, a Daily Sundial reporter.
Members of the Greek community were notified of the column’s upcoming publication and requested that it not be printed, Lalum said
California State University police are conducting a criminal investigation, University Spokesperson Carmen Ramos Chandler said.
“We are extremely disappointed that this happened. Not only is it a loss of student work but the campus newspaper is a very valuable part of the university,” Chandler said.
The Daily Sundial published an article about the theft on its Web site Thursday and the controversial column was reprinted in Monday’s issue. Copies of Monday’s issue were not stolen from the racks, Lalum said.
Copyright 2010 Student Press Law Center
