War of Words: Football and Student Newspaper vs. the Administration

Grambling State University has suffered through some embarrassing times these past few weeks. Its famous football team forfeited a game against Jackson State after it players refused to play due to poor facility conditions at their school and an exhaustive (and very unfair) travel schedule. Now, Grambling’s student newspaper has become a part of the fracas.

Two editors at The Gramblinite, the student newspaper, were suspended after they made “opinion based” tweets while covering the ongoing controversy regarding the football team at Grambling State. Online editor David Lankster Sr. claims he was fired for for tweeting photos of the school's athletic facilities which proved the players’ claims that they were covered in mold and mildew (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/grambling-state-journalists-students-punished_n_4142039.html). However, in an exchange with the school’s communication director, The Gramblinite’s Twitter account stated, “Obviously the administration doesn't care about the football team...and apparently the players have stopped ACTING like they care.” The tweet was later deleted.

The tweet that was in question supposedly was not the opinion of The Gramblinite.  Lankster claims that it was the opinion of a football player and the only problem was that the tweet  should have indicated that fact. Lankster also claims that he posted a tweet by an administrator who said they did not care about football, but did not attribute the tweet (http://www.splc.org/news/newsflash.asp?id=2623). The suspensions of Lankster and the other staff member were overturned on Tuesday, but both members have stated they do not plan on  returning to the newspaper (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/grambling-state-journalists-students-punished_n_4142039.html).

The Grambling football story illustrates the almost impossible balancing act student newspapers face around the nation in trying meet their First Amendment responsibilities when reporting on the administration of one’s university (which controls your paper). SLU dealt with this situation last year and Grambling’s situation is even messier. Student newspapers should always indicate whether any story arising on social media or in more traditional outlets, are factual reports or opinions of the editorial board. However, student newspapers should have the “independence” from the university which allows them to makes such choices without fear of reprisial. The message had good context because of the previous tweets showing the atrocious conditions in the training room, but the paper did not communicate their message effectively.

The National Association of Black Journalists decried this action as, “the adversarial pattern that persists between administrators and student media at historically black colleges and universities” (http://www.splc.org/news/newsflash.asp?id=2623). It is a difficult situation. Grambling wants to maintain its reputation in the face of cuts to their budget from the state of Louisiana and avoid negative press toward the university. However, it is a sad day when protecting a university gets in the way of a student’s First Amendment rights. These students are not able to freely express their views when they had factual evidence to support their opinion and that is wrong.