More on Student Newspaper Censorship

In my blog from Jan. 20, I took a legal approach in defending the rights of students to publish their newspapers without undergoing censorship by administration. Although I still believe that the students of St. Francis High School had every right to run the controversial photograph, I have recently come across an article that leads me to determine that some censorship--whether it be legal or illegal--is necessary.

The article from the Hartford Courant discusses a controversial article from the CCSU campus newspaper that addressed supposed "benefits" of rape. John Petroski's article (of which is unavailable for linking) entitled "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It" caused an uproar on the campus where a number of students even held a protest calling for Petroski's resignation from the paper.

"I couldn't believe the things I was reading," [a freshman named Sarah] said Thursday, a day after the article appeared. "I couldn't believe anyone in this day and age would write something like that, and that other people would let it be published."

Though many students like Sarah had similar thoughts and were offended by the story content, it is also important to note the other side. The Hartford Courant article goes on to say...

Student editors at the paper said the article was meant to be a satirical jab at the sensationalistic nature of the modern news media. But dozens of students said the article fell well short of being funny. Instead, they said, it caused deep pain for those who have already been raped, and that it reinforced age-old, misogynistic stereotypes.

In falling short of its purpose, Petroski's article not only failed to meet the standard principle of utility, but it also led many students and faculty to question his character and the character of those who allowed running the story. When writing about such personal issues like rape, journalists must maintain a certain level of virtue and censor accordingly.