ILLINOIS - With overwhelming support from the state
legislature, an amended anti-censorship bill needs only the signature of Gov.
Rod Blagojevich (D) to become law.
If the
governor signs the bill,
SB0729,
known as the College Campus Press Act, all public college and community college
publications in the state would be designated as forums for student expression
starting in January 2008.
The law would effectively negate the 2005
Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in
Hosty v. Carter in that
state. The
Hosty decision could allow public college administrators to
impose prior review and restraint on student newspapers if the publication is
not a designated public forum for student expression. It applies to Illinois,
Indiana and Wisconsin, which comprise the Seventh Circuit.
"Passage of
Senate Bill 729 is a major step in restoring the free speech and free press
rights of student journalists on our college campuses," said Edwin Yohnka,
director of communications and public policy for the American Civil Liberties
Union of Illinois. "We are grateful that the legislators responded so positively
to this idea when we brought it to their attention."
Illinois Sen. Susan
Garrett (D-Lake Forest) introduced the bill in early February with assistance
from the ACLU. Senators passed the bill unanimously in March.
The House,
which approved the measure 112-2, amended the bill last week to protect
administrators from being held liable for any student-produced material and
allow them to punish students who use unprotected speech. The Senate unanimously
approved the amendment Wednesday.
Jim Ferg-Cadima, legislative counsel
for the ACLU of Illinois, said last week that the ACLU looks forward to the
support of the governor. However, the bill is virtually veto-proof, he said,
because of the legislators' overwhelming support.
By Jenny Redden,
SPLC staff writer 
