Marquette Tribune on Suspended Dental School Blogger

The official Marquette student newspaper, the Marquette Tribune, has now posted their story on the Dental School student who was suspended because of harsh comments about an unnamed professor and unnamed fellow students.

The Tribune identified the student by name. Finding the name was a bit of a “scoop” for them, although we are not convinced that was really important information.

The story broke on this blog this past Sunday.

The student’s lawyer expressed a willingness to sue on First Amendment grounds, if Marquette refuses to rescend or reduce the punishment. According to the Tribune:

“It seems to me that if the university and the Dental School stood its ground together, there is probably a substantial likelihood that the decision would withstand serious scrutiny,” said Peter Rofes, professor of law and associate dean for academic affairs at the Law School.

We are quoted as saying the issue is not what restrictions on speech Marquette can get away with imposing, but what restrictions it is prudent to impose.

Student government seems inclined to take up this issue:

Students in Marquette Student Government expressed concern over the case after receiving student surveys earlier this semester indicating widespread feeling that students do not have freedom of expression on campus, according to College of Arts & Sciences sophomore Brock Banks, president pro tempore of MUSG.

Banks said he and two other senators are meeting to create a resolution addressing [the student’s] suspension. If the resolution passes through the Student Life Committee Wednesday night, it will be put on the agenda for Thursday night’s full Senate meeting.

Banks said students “should not be reprimanded for non-criminal, unofficial language” made on personal Web sites.

Banks’ resolution coincides with MUSG discussions of drafting a student bill of rights next semester.

College of Arts & Sciences sophomore Sara Stellpflug, chair of the Student Life Committee, said she wanted to make sure [the student’s] situation “is not going to be a precedent for undergraduates.”

On a side note: the Tribune story, as journalism, compared well with the very good story written by Megan Twohey in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.