The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 8, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 14, 1967 Page: 2 of 4
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PAGE TWO
THE J-TAC
TUESDAY, NOVEMBfRF, V4>, 1967
SJUtasUal
Censored'
"A- student- was ordered' reinstated- to* Troy State' Col-
lege by aJ District Court after dismissal for 'Insubordina-
tion.' As editor of the school newspaper, the student had
refused to substitute ati editorial on dogs for one critical
of the Alabama Legislature, inserting in the otherwise
blank space the word 'censored.' The school's action was
held to be unreasonable as against the'constitutional right
of free speech."
The above excerpt from the AATJP: Newsletter points
up a continuing problem in all college newspapers: wheth-
er op hot the student staff or' the faculty, administration
or board of trustees will be the determiners of what does
and does not get printed in the paper. The problem is not
necessarily"one of censorship, but rather one of who is
to be' censor.
All newspapers must be cerisored to some extent. Li-
belous matter, for which the paper can be held legally
accountable, must not be'printed. The reporter censors
facts; or details considered unimportant to the main-story.
The editor is supposed to exercise his "blue pencil" guid-
ed by the limits of responsible journalism. And often the
publisher has his own- sacred cows which" must not be
disturbed;
This problem becomes acute in the college situation,
where the student editor may or may not- have' the ex-
perience and maturity-to- realize what the'limits of re±
sponsible reporting are. Colleges, which'deperid for- their
economic livelihood on public furTds, or donations froih
corporatiorfs or alumhi, are' likely to be extremely sensi-
tive to the tone'and* content" of the newspaper'which it
uses to advertise itself.
And this is rightly so: But in the long run, a college
gains little from exercising so tight a control' that the
paper is stifled. In1 the long ruff,-any college can only gain
from havihg' a school'papier'with the reputation for print-
ing the truth, and printing all the truth.
The function of the college should b& td exercise cen-
sorship only when a story in question may be libelous.
Otherwise the students should be left tc try and to-fail-.
They should be allowed to try because" this is what makes
.a good'paper and good journalists. They should be allow-
ed to fail because they are student's after all',, and, if they
were masters of their craft, they would not be in the col-
lege' situation as students but rather as- teachers.
To be a; good paper, a newspaper should" report every-
thing that is happening, and report'it accurately. In this
way, everyone knows exactly what-is going on,, and rum-
ors and-gossip are somewhat quieted. A newspaper should
comment on events, because in' this way it! can direct at- .
tention to important issues. And it should be: left free to
do these things, or it becomes meaningless;
Tarleton has recently instituted, on a trial- basis, exact-
ly this' policy of allowing, the student editor and assistant
editor'full control over the content of the J-TAC. This is-
a big step, but a necessary one. Arids we Would venture'
to say that Tarleton is one: of the few colleges in this •
state- that has the courage and the* faith in its students
to take that step.
svffn
"Reliable Banking; Service
Since 1906
Stephenville, Texas
or
Letters to
Editor
By Flip Gearing-
Well, . Homecoming has been and gone. Thank goodness.
It's a grand institution and all; that, but it sure is tiring. Not
only does homecoming encompass a whole week of float building,
freshman activities, bonfires, banquets, parades, a football game
and dance, and teas for returning exes, but it' also is invariably
the week'of nine weeks" tests. ^
Not that I'm complaining about nine weeks' exams (much).
After all, even though the mid-semester report doesn't count-on
your final record, it does let your parents know how they're going
to treat you the next nine weeks. (Take the -car away, cut your
money, plead with you, etc.) And-it also gives you an indication
of whether yoiu ought to join the army no\y or later (for the boys)
or get married immediately (for the girls — well, boys top).
So-it's not really nine weeks'" 'tests that I'm, against', nor is-it
Homecoming, It's the fact that they both happen at the sande- tittle;
(Before I go on, let me make it clear that I do not know who
schedules either Homecoming or the testing periods, so this is
not aimed at anybody personally. Just generally). ' '
It isn't the teachers who are at fault. They have to have, their
grades in at tlie required time, and can't give the" tests a-week
early because they need the extra Week for lectures;
But nevertheless, it seems like someone could take pity' on us
poor students and' arrange it so' tha,t! these two time-consuming
events ddn't corne at the same time; After all, there's no rule'that
says' Homecoming has to be t^ie last home* game. We could-'have
it a little earlier"and'not'really upset anything: (except m'aybe the'
student council; who frantically work their heads off fro hi olid-,
summer ou>tQ-get homecoming going.)
Anyway, gripes aside, homecoming was great this yeair," and
everyotte who wOfKed s6'harct-' tO;make it that way'deserved a'b%
vote of thariks. ' ■. ■ < ' i
But could' We" please not have it at nihe weeks' next'year?
After all; when yoii have seven mid-term exams and' tWo' term
papei-s in one week, and' a1 float, to build, you begin to ffeel' a; little
bit pTersecUWd1 by thfe' tiiae' it's all over: And there's no- tfeed' for
that.
To the students of Tarleton
State College:
It is my most sincere and
earnest "thank-you" that I ex-
tend to the students of' Tarle-
ton for their support of the
debs concession car on the all
school trip. My special' thanks-
goes to the' members of the
Wainwright Rifles for their un-
ending help and moral support
ahd to Mike Moncrief who
ghve us enough push and drive "
to succeed.
Little do most of you- realize
how much new- uniforms mean
to us. Each of you that brought
a1 "cheese'* sandwich or coke
piit us another thread closer to
our goal. When "we do get them,
I hope you will be as proud
of them as the members of the
Wainwright: Debs:
Sincerely, I am,
Pam McKntire
Commander of the Wain-
wright Debs
mm
Second class-postage paid at Stephenvllle,
Texas 76401; Undeffverable" copies return'
Box 309/ Tarleton Station, Stephenviller
Texas 76401—return' postage" guaranteed.
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 8, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 14, 1967, newspaper, November 14, 1967; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141143/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.