Indiana governor to speak at First Amendment event

By Megan Chance
J-Ideas

INDIANAPOLIS--For the second consecutive year, Gov. Mitch Daniels will address a symposium focused on First Amendment freedoms, according to Diana Hadley, executive director of the Indiana High School Press Association.

At last year’s event, organized by the IHSPA, Daniels warned student journalists that the “First Amendment is not for the faint of heart” and referred to the State House as the “temple of the First Amendment.”

This year’s First Amendment Symposium will be hosted in the North Atrium at the Indiana State House on March 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The First Amendment Symposium is free to the public and neither tickets nor reservations are required. Public parking is available near the State House. Further questions about parking can be directed to Hadley at (317) 738-8199 or at dhadley@franklincollege.edu

Hadley explains the symposium helps support essential freedoms in America.

“(We created the symposium) to develop awareness that the First Amendment is a very special part of Democracy, but you have to keep it healthy,” Hadley said. “By educating students (about their First Amendment rights), we have a better chance of keeping it strong.”

Last year, Hadley, organized the inaugural First Amendment Symposium. Three hundred journalism students, teachers, administrators and Gov. Mitch Daniels attended the event.

“I worry about students’ rights,” Hadley says, “This is a chance to make a situation I worry about a little better.”

For Hadley, the First Amendment Symposium is an additional way to educate students about their First Amendment rights.

This year’s symposium will present The First Amendment Education and Civic Responsibility Panel. This panel will be moderated by RTV6’s Rafael Sanchez. Also on the program: Indiana University Professor Jack Dvorak, author of “Journalism Kids Do Better;” John Krull, Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union; Dennis Ryerson, Editor and Vice President of The Indianapolis Star and Warren Watson, Director of J-Ideas.

In addition to the panel of speakers, four college students who were previously editors of their high school newspapers will open each segment of the event with thoughts on their experiences as student journalists. The First Amendment Symposium will focus on truth, courage, integrity, and freedom, which are the four core values of IHSPA.

Terry Nelson, a journalism teacher at Muncie (Ind.) Central High School plans on taking at least 30 of her own students to this year’s symposium.

“This event reminds kids that they have a voice too,” Nelson says, “I think it is a very positive experience for them.”

Jeff Dick, student editor of the Muncie Central High School newspaper and IHSPA state board student officer agreed.

“Students should go to the symposium because it’s important for students to understand their rights given to them by the First Amendment.”

Chuck Muston, principal of Mooresville (Ind.) High School, plans on attending, citing the symposium’s importance.

“It is one thing to read about it and another to experience it,” Muston said. “If students can draw from personal experiences, it makes the learning process that much more effective.”

During the event a tribute will also be read in honor of the late David Adams. Adams was a national leader for press freedom for student journalists and he served as a publisher and director of the Indiana Daily Student and the Arbutus yearbook for 18 years.