Indiana governor kicks off symposium event at 'temple of the First Amendment'

By Josie Bode and Missy Wess
J-Ideas

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels warned student journalists that the “First Amendment is not for the faint of heart,” urging those attending a March 6 First Amendment Symposium to be vigilant defenders of their rights to free expression and speech.

Showing his support for student media rights across the state, Daniels addressed a crowd of 250 in a place he called the “temple of the First Amendment.” The event, which took place in the North Atrium of the Indiana State House, celebrated the First Amendment from the highest branch of the state government.

Daniels told the crowd students, teachers, administrators and legislators that his administration had bolstered open records and government transparency by posting all government contracts on line for the press and public to scrutinize. “The First Amendment is not a pick-and-choose matter,” Daniels said, warning that true champions of the First Amendment, “should be prepared to be unpopular.”

The Indiana High School Press Association (IHSPA), with help from J-Ideas, sponsored the symposium. “We continue to receive great responses about the event,” said executive director Diana Hadley. “I am thrilled with the turnout, not just of students but educators who support the First Amendment.”

A panel discussion, moderated by Tony Willis, supervisor of communications and curriculum at Carmel Clay Schools, spoke to the application of the First Amendment in Indiana high schools. When addressing controversial topics in the school newsroom, Robert Switzer, IHSPA officer and student editor of Terre Haute North Vigo High School’s student newspaper, the Continental Crier, suggested determining the true intention for writing the article. “Do I want to print this with the intention of being controversial, or is it really necessary for students to know?” asked Switzer.

Additionally, Dr. Marlin Creasy, superintendent at Muncie Community Schools, stressed that he does not believe in prior review. However, he suggested that when journalism advisers are dealing with controversial subject matter, advance notification is truly helpful to both the school’s newspaper staff and school administrators.

Other speakers included:

• Warren Watson, director of J-Ideas, presented new data about the state of the First Amendment in schools across the nation. He showed that many students do not have an appreciation for the First Amendment.
• Shawn Healy, resident scholar at the McCormick-Tribune Freedom Museum, addressed the challenges the First Amendment faces in the digital age.  He pointed out that digital free speech issues are becoming more predominant across the country.
• Dr. Mary Andis, director of English/language arts in the Office of Program Development at the Department of Education, discussed the current status of journalism education standards in Indiana high schools. She mentioned that new standards are currently being reviewed by her department.

The IHSPA honored four students for outstanding essays written in the spirit of the First Amendment. They included Nicole Hong, Jeffrey Dick, Ben Phelps and Natalie Lukich. Their essays are posted on this web site.

Other student journalists from around the state addressed the audience on issues relating to the four core values of the Indiana High School Press Association: truth, courage, integrity and freedom.

Marilyn Weaver, chairwoman of the Ball State University Department of Journalism paid tribute to Dr. Louis Ingelhart, a renowned First Amendment advocate and Ball State professor emeritus. Ingelhart died at 86 on Jan. 7, 2007.