100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
Phone: (580) 772-6611
Fax: (580) 774-3795
webmaster@swosu.edu
The Southwestern
SWOSU recognizes the inherent value of a student newspaper in serving the university community and providing opportunities for laboratory experience for students interested in journalism, mass communications, creative writing, and other forms of expression. A student newspaper is a useful teaching device when integrated into the curriculum. An extracurricular student newspaper benefits the university through the development of students who can think perceptively and critically. A publication that serves as a forum for debate and discussion facilitates an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and enhances the university community. A newspaper benefits the university by disseminating significant information to the university community.
The University supports the student newspaper by providing revenue and donating such items as office space, equipment, supplies, and services from budget planning to duplication and printing. Therefore, SWOSU, as the publisher, establishes this policy to clarify the role of the student newspaper, the standards to be used in its evaluation, and the limits on external control of its operation.
Students are protected in the exercise of freedom of expression by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, as well as Oklahoma law. Accordingly, university officials are responsible for ensuring freedom of expression for all students.
An official, university-sponsored newspaper of a regional university should include a forum for student expression as a voice in the free and open discussion of issues. The newspaper should provide an opportunity for students to inquire, question, and exchange ideas. Content should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics about which there may be dissent or controversy. The final decision of whether the material is to be published will be left to the student editor or student editorial staff. At the same time, the editorial freedom of the student editor entails corollary responsibilities to be governed by the canons or responsible journalism.