ILLINOIS — The editor of Chicago State University's
student newspaper, who earlier this month filed suit against his school's
administration alleging unlawful censorship, has now been told his paper will
not go to print this week.
George Providence II and the Tempo have been at odds with CSU
administration since last year, when Providence says oppressive attempts at
administrative oversight began. The most recent development in
Tempo's saga began with the installment of a new adviser, Quraysh
Ali Lansana, and culminated Monday night with Lansana's decision to
suspend publication of Tempo.
"He told me we are not going to publish it ... that there's no
point in publishing it because there was not enough original content,"
Providence said of his adviser's decision.
Providence suspects, though, that front-page stories critiquing
administration and the school's low graduation rate are what sparked
Lansana to refuse the green light for print.
As of press time, Lansana did not return calls for comment.
Late last week Lansana asked Providence to forward that issue's
proofs to him for his input. Providence reluctantly complied with the request.
"At some level, I believe his motivations are right. He wants to
improve the quality of the newspaper," Providence said.
After reviewing the stories slated for publication, Lansana informed
Providence he would not send the issue to print, according to Providence.
Stunned, Providence wrote to school officials to express his dismay and
contacted his lawyer to add the most recent grievance to his lawsuit.
"This week's decision to stop
the presses is particularly disheartening," Providence said in his e-mail
to select members of CSU administration. "It not only further depresses
the morale of a vastly depleted staff who has felt like an orphaned child by
virtue of the administration's
inattentiveness to its needs, but it is also evidence of a cavalier attitude
towards the rights and expectations of students."
By Kate Maternowski, SPLC staff writer
