In October, anti-Israel students interrupted a career fair at the University of Colorado in Boulder in protest of defense and aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin. Student Ašiihkionkonci Parker was suspended for reporting on the protest without first getting permission from the school.
Parker, who reports for an independent newspaper, also faced a ban on being on campus, except for classes. Two other journalists and ten activists did as well.
Matt Lamb of The College Fix reports, "The university requires approval … five days ahead of time to film things inside this open campus building," and he explains why that is problematic.
"It's a generally public space. There's no reasonable expectation of privacy in an open place where people are eating, and they're talking," Lamb notes. "Second, there's no way you could get approval five days in advance for a spontaneous protest."
He says limiting the coverage of spontaneous events effectively limits the freedom of the press rights of students and any news outlet that wants to cover what is going on at this public university.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) quickly intervened with letters and emails asking for Parker's immediate reinstatement and urging CU Boulder to reaffirm its commitment to student press rights.
The school's media team reportedly gave no response to an email The College Fix sent Nov. 11, the follow-up on Nov. 17, or the other attempts to reach out via email and phone call in November and December.
Provost Ann Stevens did provide general comments to FIRE in a response letter on the situation, citing the "ongoing student conduct process" and referencing the university's policies restricting filming. She also noted the school wants to support journalism.
Regardless, the student is still facing punishment.
Lamb says if FIRE's pressure has no effect, then perhaps Parker could pursue legal action.
"Ultimately, I think this policy will have to be reversed," he tells AFN.
That could be done by the university, by the University of Colorado Board of Regents, or by a judge.
