Last
updated: November 2005
University
forces student paper to pulp entire issue
A
student newspaper was forced to pulp an entire issue last month, after
the university threatened an injunction against its distribution.
Thousands
of copies of the October 20 edition of The Oxford Student newspaper
were shredded by Oxford University. This happened after the threat of
a legal injunction forced the publisher, Oxford Student Services Limited
(OSSL), to hand over all printed copies of the newspaper and destroy
all electronic material relating to the paper’s front page story.
The action pre-empted the distribution of an article that concerned
an ongoing proctoral investigation into an allegation of harassment
brought by a student against another undergraduate.
Internal investigations of this kind are governed by the university's
procedural regulations, which ensure that the confidentiality of those
involved is maintained.
It is believed to be the first time that a British university has taken
steps to secure an injunction against its own student newspaper.
Rob Lewis, editor of the paper , confirmed that, “A story had
to be pulled after a legal matter was brought to our attention,”
but declined to comment further.
Another Oxford paper, The Cherwell, reported that that although
the university proctors had been aware that The Oxford Student was running
the story they only intervened at a later stage, when it became apparent
that the article contained specific details from a confidential report
on the investigation.
Editorial staff agreed to the withdrawal, after initially refusing to
pull the issue, when the university sought legal advice on the matter.
OSSL was informed that the university was able to go to court that evening
to prevent the distribution of the issue.
OUSU President Emma Norris stated, "The decision to stop distribution
was made jointly by the publisher and editorial staff and agreed by
all involved."
The Oxford Student costs an estimated £3000 to print
per issue, but it is thought the cost to OSSL, including the loss of
advertising revenue could exceed £10,000. OSSL refused to disclose
the exact figure for commercial reasons. A new edition carrying a story
of the withdrawal on the front page appeared days after the withdrawal.
Of the threatened legal injunction a Oxford University spokesperson
said, "At the request of the University, the October 20 issue of
The Oxford Student has been withdrawn. The edition carried
confidential details of an ongoing University disciplinary case against
an undergraduate, which information had been released to the paper in
breach of the University's procedures and without the consent of the
individuals involved."
"Publishing details of such a case would be highly detrimental
both to the conduct of a fair disciplinary process and, potentially,
to the welfare of the students involved in the case. The welfare of
undergraduates is a primary concern of both OUSU and the University,
and it is crucial to students' confidence in the complaints process
and the disciplinary process that the strictest confidentiality is maintained."
The spokesperson said that also said that if details of the investigation
had been circulated, it may have led students to lose faith in the university's
internal justice system, which operates entirely confidentially. They
further explained that in normal legal proceedings no paper would be
able to publish documents being submitted to the court during a hearing,
hence the university's action over its own justice proceedings.
No legal action was taken against any of The Oxford Student's
editorial staff. Mr Lewis said, "The paper published a new issue
and everything is back to normal."
