Members of the ULM Hawkeye celebrated Student Press Freedom Day on Thursday, February 27th. Students in America use this day to spread awareness about the challenges student journalists face and to advocate for student press freedom rights across the country. This day represents an opportunity for future journalists and writers to express their opinions on the state of student press and acknowledge the adversity faced by former student journalists.
Two ULM Hawkeye students, Katherine Babin and Amir Alnajjar, visited KEDM Public Radio Station and talked with Cory Crowe about the importance of Student Press Freedom Day. "Student press freedom is really important because it is celebrating our first amendment of freedom of speech," proclaimed by Babin. She also added that publications play a pivotal role in students receiving the knowledge of what is taking place on and off campus.
Alnajjar discussed the history of student press, and how press freedom can provide leverage to journalists. He mentioned the 1969 case of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. He says that students won the case and were able to have "their freedom of press continued and allowed to talk about issues without the fear of being removed from the school." Alnajjar also goes on to say that press freedom allows students to hold universities responsible for their decisions and misdoings. "We are allowed to hold our university accountable without the fear of retaliation, which is a big thing."
ULM Hawkeye students recently attended the Southeast Journalism Conference held at Mississippi State University. Various multimedia competitions took place, and several members of the Hawkeye placed in these competitions. Katherine Babin placed 5th in the best photography competition, battling against other photographers from southern universities, including the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee.
Each year, Student Press Freedom Day contains a theme. This year's theme is "pursuing hard truths," and students of ULM publications aim to exemplify that in their work.