Thonen suggested that since his editiorial policy was that no material be subject to censorship, the only ethical alternative open would be to resign and make way for another person who didn t have the same views. The case of Thonen vs. ECU took a while, and Thonen was reinstated in school, but not until about 10 years later. The case handed down a national precedent for student newspapers. A self-regulated student press is a free student press. A responsible student press should reasonably be expected to maintain a level of professional performance and ethics pertinent to its purpose and restricted only by its resources.
Financial independence is a cornerstone of true freedom and responsibility of the student press.
The role of the student press advisor is to help students to transfer their theories to practice. The free student press is free to all who have something worth saying. This page created by student worker Moses Mitchener, Jr., Fall Semester 2000. Click here for more information regarding job opportunities in University Archives.