WAC 132F-121-040   Journalistic freedom and responsibility.  (1) A primary purpose of student publications is to promote free and responsible discussion of campus and community issues.

     (2) Each campus president shall establish a board of publications composed of representatives of students, faculty, and staff. This board shall serve as the publisher of all student publications and shall have general authority over them.

     (3) The board of publications may adopt, subject to modification by the campus president, such journalistic, editorial, and advertising guidelines as it deems appropriate to govern student publications. Unless specifically stated by the board and approved by the campus president otherwise, these guidelines shall be deemed to include all applicable federal and state laws, all district rules, policies and procedures, and relevant codes of journalistic, editorial and advertising ethics and practices as adopted by national trade and professional organizations, including but not limited to the Statement of Principles as adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

     (4) Student newspapers shall be free of censorship. However, student newspapers and other student publications shall follow the board's guidelines as described above. Student editors shall be free to develop their own editorial policies within these guidelines.

     (5) Staff members of student newspapers shall not be subject to arbitrary discipline or dismissal because of student, faculty, administrative or community disapproval of editorial policy or content.

     (6) Good cause for discipline or dismissal of a student publication staff member shall include, but not be limited to, violation of the board's guidelines. Any discipline or dismissal of a student staff member shall be subject to review under the student complaint procedure.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.100, [28B.50].130, and/or[28B.50].140 . 03-16-015, § 132F-121-040, filed 7/28/03, effective 8/28/03.]