James Madison University’s judicial-affairs office has found a reporter for the student newspaper, The Breeze, responsible for trespassing in a campus dormitory. Katie Hibson, a contributing writer, was charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, and noncompliance with an official request in connection with reporting she was doing for the newspaper in late October. Ms. Hibson had twice entered the dorm, and each time was asked to leave by a resident assistant. She will not appeal the decision, she says, because even though she does not feel she violated university policy, the judicial process has taken a toll on her schoolwork.
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3 Responses to Student Reporter Held Responsible for Trespassing at James Madison U.
laurencejgillis - November 10, 2009 at 7:12 am
Exactly what part of “no trespassing” doesn’t this aspiring Newsie understand? If I’m in my PJs, waddling between rooms in my dorm (the dormitory use that I am paying for with my own money), I have a powerful expectation of privacy and I fully expect the School to enforce the privacy that I bought from them.There is a difference between being a legitimate journalist and being a member of the paparazzi.This alleged “reporter” should have been suspended for a semester, with an official reprimand entered in the official transcript.
mathews5 - November 10, 2009 at 9:32 am
Wow… why are you so bitter? Official reprimand? Official transcript? The student was merely trying to be a “good” journalist.Also, doesn’t this student have a right to be in the residence hall? Doesn’t she pay tuition?
svoorhies - November 10, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Right to be in the residence hall? No, not unless she pays room and probably board. Tuition is irrelevant. If a good journalist breaks the law (trespassing) a good journalist accepts the consequencies.