The editor of the student newspaper at Bryan College (Tennessee) was ordered by the college President to spike his story about the real reason a professor resigned suddenly. ( to spike a story: not print it)
Student editor Alex Green emailed biblical studies professor David Morgan who confirmed he’d left his job. The official school position was that Morgan had left “to pursue other opportunities.” Hearing there was more to the story Green, using public records planned to run what he found in the September 21st student newspaper Triangle. The students publish the Triangle bi-weekly.
Alex Green printed up his story on his own, along with the reason he defied Byran College President Dr. Steven Livesay. Then he emailed a .pdf file to a few trusted current students and alumni in case fake papers surfaced with an altered version of his article, and distributed it around the campus. This is the sidebar Alex Green wrote.
The story the college president tried to kill can be found here.
Green, a senior majoring in journalism, could be expelled.
I see what Alex Green has done as a courageous act of integrity. He committed journalism., and I hope newspapers around the US offer him a job.
Bryan College was established in 1930 and is a private Christian liberal arts school with about 1300 students.
Lots of updates: Bryan College President Livesay spoke to students today, wouldn’t permit filming.
I suspect this blog post may not be up long.
Bryan College official statement.
As the Triangle is produced as part of a class and students receive academic credit for their participation, the Triangle falls under the supervision and authority of the administration. This being the case, we did not believe the college should put itself or its publications in the position of commenting on pending criminal or judicial matters.
In hindsight, this may have been a mistake. We believed we were doing the right thing to protect the privacy of a man charged, but not convicted, of a crime.
Jim Romensko follows up