Muting the student voice
Tim Curtiss
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Opinion
The civil liberty known as freedom of speech is at risk in southern California colleges. Not because of any type of an attack of questionable content, that is to say it is not because of obscene content.
Perhaps for an even sadder reason, the ability to produce a student publication is becoming harder and harder to do. That reason being, finances.
It is known to just about everyone that the Los Angeles area, and to a greater extent California as a whole is suffering greatly from the economic situation seen on the news.
Recently, the student newspaper at Cal State Dominguez Hills, The Bulletin collapsed because of a lack of funding. But this isn't the first time it has happened; The Bulletin had been shut down once but brought back through the school President's efforts.
Cal State Dominguez's newspaper isn't the only local college paper to have been shut down or at risk of being shut down.
In addition to The Bulletin, Canyon Call at the College of the Canyon in Valencia has met its demise after the newspaper's advisor retired from his position.
In a closer proximity to us at Rio Hondo is the newspaper at risk at Cerritos college who due to a lack of funds considered to switching to strictly an online publication, but the paper is still publishing in paper for now.
We all know that California is in a dire fiscal situation, and that the schools are going to hurt, that is a fact and can not really be avoided. But should the student voice be the one to suffer?
Yes, colleges do discuss topics outside of the classroom like politics, celebrity entertainment, and sports. But college newspapers are a vital aspect of spreading important news within in the school that many students would have possibly not received.
In all honesty, students are not going to attending Board of Trustee meetings are ASB meetings, they are not going to be at the locations where the information that is vital would be given out. Speaking from first and second hand experience, we as students are all busy. These newspapers, whether here at Rio Hondo or anywhere else are play a very important role in the education of college students.
The revocation of the ability for students to speak is a disturbing trend spreading throughout California colleges.
I know that we as a state are in some real financial troubles but I as everyone at El Paisano hope we'll still be able to tell others about it.
Perhaps for an even sadder reason, the ability to produce a student publication is becoming harder and harder to do. That reason being, finances.
It is known to just about everyone that the Los Angeles area, and to a greater extent California as a whole is suffering greatly from the economic situation seen on the news.
Recently, the student newspaper at Cal State Dominguez Hills, The Bulletin collapsed because of a lack of funding. But this isn't the first time it has happened; The Bulletin had been shut down once but brought back through the school President's efforts.
Cal State Dominguez's newspaper isn't the only local college paper to have been shut down or at risk of being shut down.
In addition to The Bulletin, Canyon Call at the College of the Canyon in Valencia has met its demise after the newspaper's advisor retired from his position.
In a closer proximity to us at Rio Hondo is the newspaper at risk at Cerritos college who due to a lack of funds considered to switching to strictly an online publication, but the paper is still publishing in paper for now.
We all know that California is in a dire fiscal situation, and that the schools are going to hurt, that is a fact and can not really be avoided. But should the student voice be the one to suffer?
Yes, colleges do discuss topics outside of the classroom like politics, celebrity entertainment, and sports. But college newspapers are a vital aspect of spreading important news within in the school that many students would have possibly not received.
In all honesty, students are not going to attending Board of Trustee meetings are ASB meetings, they are not going to be at the locations where the information that is vital would be given out. Speaking from first and second hand experience, we as students are all busy. These newspapers, whether here at Rio Hondo or anywhere else are play a very important role in the education of college students.
The revocation of the ability for students to speak is a disturbing trend spreading throughout California colleges.
I know that we as a state are in some real financial troubles but I as everyone at El Paisano hope we'll still be able to tell others about it.
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