Monthly Archives: January 2009

Charges Refiled Against Student Photographer

Posted on January 30, 2009 by

The Daily Collegian reports that charges of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct have been refiled against Michael Felletter, the student photographer who was accused of “taking photographs that would excite the crowd and encourage destructive behavior” after taking photographs … Continue reading →

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The Joy of CENSORED

Posted on January 29, 2009 by

A woman in Topeka, Kansas, has requested that the library board restrict other adults’ access to four books in the adult section of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.  The sexual content in The Joy of Sex, Sex for … Continue reading →

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Global gag rule lifted

Posted on January 28, 2009 by

On Friday, January 23rd, President Obama lifted the “global gag rule” by executive order. The policy prohibited international organizations receiving federal funding to talk about abortion as an option. In the Winter 2008 issue of Censorship News, in our “issues … Continue reading →

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Spam charges dropped for MSU student

Posted on January 28, 2009 by

We’re happy to report that MSU has removed it’s charge of “spamming” against student government leader Kara Spencer.  Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Legal Director Cindy Cohn said, We’re pleased that MSU has reversed course and will not only drop the charge … Continue reading →

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In an important step towards open goverment, Obama revives FOIA

Posted on January 27, 2009 by

On his first day in office, Barack Obama issued a memo reviving The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The memo states: “The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails.” … Continue reading →

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Daily Collegian photographer likely to face charges for taking photographs at riot

Posted on January 26, 2009 by

According to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, charges against the student photographer Michael Felletter are likely to be refiled. Michael Felletter, a photographer for Penn State’s newspaper The Daily Collegian, was charged with disorderly conduct and failure … Continue reading →

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John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, salutes North Dakotans for defending his book

Posted on January 23, 2009 by

According to The Bismarck Tribune, author John Berendt has a new respect for North Dakota, after his book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was first pulled, then reinstated in the Beulah High School library. While he was … Continue reading →

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Why Texas matters: Evolution education in “one of the nation’s biggest buyers of textbooks”

Posted on January 22, 2009 by

The New York Times reported yesterday on the fight in Texas over science standards. The standards for 20 years have required that science be taught in a way that show the “strengths and weaknesses” of Darwin’s theory of evolution.  The … Continue reading →

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Obama, the Arts and Free Expression

Posted on January 21, 2009 by

The new president is giving every mildly liberal person reason to hope their pet cause might be advaced in the next four years. So what about my pet cause: creative freedom? Things appear optimistic. After all Barack Obama enters office … Continue reading →

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USA Patriot Act in the Obama Administration: Continued support for rule that allows access to bookstore, library records

Posted on January 21, 2009 by

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that, under President Obama’s nominee for attorney general, Eric Holder, what you read could still be held against you.  Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act allows federal agents to demand bookstore and library records … Continue reading →

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