INDIANA -- The editor-in-chief of Lake Central High School's student
newspaper, The Scout, said he felt intimidated when he addressed the
school board Monday night to ask that school officials be forced to return the
papers they confiscated from newsstands last week.
Michael Majchrowicz, The Scout's editor-in-chief spoke at the
meeting with about 100 guests in support, and requested the papers be returned
no later than Tuesday, Feb. 16. That deadline passed with the papers still under
administrative lock and key.
"Basically, the board went into that meeting with their minds already made
up. They're not doing anything about the paper, it's not going back out on the
stands as of now. It's at a standstill." Majchrowicz said.
An editorial endorsing the resignation of Lake Central High School's
football coach, Bill Melby, prompted administrators to remove the remaining
issues of The Scout from the stands last week. The editorial said that a
change was needed to the football program after its past three season losses,
and praised the administration's efforts to make changes.
Majchrowicz wrote the editorial and said Principal Sandie Platt approved
the paper after it was submitted to her for prior review.
"The editorial was literally unmarked," Majchrowicz said.
Superintendent Larry Veracco said some students complained to the high
school assistant principals about the editorial, which led Assistant Principal
Doug McCallister to remove the paper from the stands.
The papers were removed, however Veracco became involved after receiving
two phone calls from parents.
One of the phone calls Veracco received was from the mother of The
Scout's sports editor, he said. The newspaper staffer--who is also the
manager of the football team--had been receiving phone calls to her home in
regards to the article. Veracco said during a vote within the editorial staff as
to whether or not to run the editorial, the sports editor voted against
publication.
"What it turns out to be at this point is that it appears that some
students are being pestered, bothered, harassed, whatever term you want to use,
about the article," Veracco said.
Majchrowicz said the administration offered an alternative to the issue
being returned to the stands.
After being told last week he could run a blank space or make revisions to
the editorial before it was reissued he said he felt the only solution would be
to have the newspapers returned.
"We are a paper under prior review, everything was approved, and then it
was forcibly removed from the stands. My whole objective here is just to get the
word out and get the papers back on the stands," Majchrowicz said.
Veracco said he believes the mission of the school's newspaper should not
be to create controversy.
"I think the school paper should try to do things that unite students and
bring the school together, and promote what the school purpose is." Veracco
said.
The administration plans on reviewing its prior review process for the
future, Veracco said.
Majchrowicz said The Scout plans to have another editorial in this
week's issue about censorship.
By Nicole Ocran, SPLC staff writer
