The raid clearly violates the federal Privacy Protection Act of 1980, which states that “it shall be unlawful for a government officer or employee, in connection with the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense, to search for or seize any work product materials possessed by a person reasonably believed to have a purpose to disseminate to the public a newspaper, book, broadcast or other similar form of public communication.” Furthermore, under the Privacy Protection Act, The Breeze should have been allowed a reasonable amount of time to respond to and oppose the search warrant before the actual raid occurred. The act effectively protects newspapers from searches by government officials without subpoenas. Since the raid, The Breeze has sought legal counsel and the confiscated photos have been handed over to a JMU faculty member until an agreement is reached between the newspaper and the commonwealth attorney.
The Daily Princetonian applauds the vigilance of the staff of The Breeze for its reasoned resistance to the police’s improperly conducted search of its newsroom. As a student publication, the ‘Prince’ is particularly alarmed by this incident and condemns the actions of the Harrisonburg police and the commonwealth attorney. Incidents like this threaten the free speech and independence of student publications, whose rights are especially vulnerable to government infringement. Unlike more widely circulated and well-funded publications such as The New York Times or The Washington Post, student publications typically lack the political clout, financial means and public recognition necessary to defend against government encroachment. At the same time, student publications are vital sources of news and opinions for the student bodies they serve.
The raid on The Breeze should serve as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of student publications and the importance of fighting unscrupulous police action against them.
Read More
Princeton’s administration of justice is Trumpian
Frances BroganThe disparity between the University’s approach to Giberson and its approach to pro-Palestinian protestors reflects a concerning trend of appeasing an increasingly emboldened right rather than resisting the threat it poses to academic freedom and the wellbeing of Princeton students.
Secular Opening Exercises? Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water
Frank StrasburgerThe secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
The secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
Return Pete Hegseth’s educational ideologies “to sender”
Lily Halbert-AlexanderHegseth believes students are being raised to “see America as an evil place” because his confining approach to education leaves no room for admiration and criticism, hope and horror, to coexist. He treats American history, patriotic ideals and the “pillars of Western civilization” as if they were made of glass, as if “cross-cultural encounters” and critical race theory, the “cornucopia of diversity” he criticizes, could shatter them.
Hegseth believes students are being raised to “see America as an evil place” because his confining approach to education leaves no room for admiration and criticism, hope and horror, to coexist. He treats American history, patriotic ideals and the “pillars of Western civilization” as if they were made of glass, as if “cross-cultural encounters” and critical race theory, the “cornucopia of diversity” he criticizes, could shatter them.
