Next June, the specter of censorship will no longer loom over public-university newspapers.

The College Campus Press Act, also known as Senate Bill 729, will go into effect June 1, 2008. The act will allow all student newspapers on college campuses to print without censorship from school officials.

“Campus media, whether campus-sponsored or non-campus-sponsored, is not subject to prior review by public officials of a state-sponsored institution of higher learning,” according to SB 729.

The College Campus Press Act bill was first filed by Senator Susan Garrett (D-29th) on Feb 8., according to the Illinois General Assembly. The bill was approved by Gov. Rod Blagojevich and passed as a public act Aug. 31, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

SB 729 also specifies that “all campus media produced primarily by students at a state-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the student journalists and editors at the particular institution.”

“It is kind of hard to say how it affects the paper, because in my time at Kishwaukee, there was never really any problems with censoring,” said Clark Cahill, editor in chief for The Kaleidoscope, Kishwaukee Community College’s student-run newspaper.

“But I will say that it is a very comforting feeling to know that I can put whatever I want to put in the paper and not have to worry about someone telling me that I can’t.”

In addition, the bill provides protection to college media advisers from being fired for allowing publication of anything protected by the free-speech rights of student editors and journalists.

“I might get feedback from some people that are not happy with what I put in the paper, but that is only an opinion and it will never change or make me question my decisions,” Cahill said.

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