Legislature to Debate Freedom of Student Journalists

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Byline: Don Thompson Daily Herald State Government Writer

SPRINGFIELD - Student journalists' complaints of censorship prompted a bill now before the General Assembly that would guarantee free speech and free press rights to school-sponsored newspapers and yearbooks.

"I wasn't convinced there was a problem," said state Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw, because, in her view, students had protection under the U.S. Constitution.

But then the Republican held a hearing in November in Naperville that drew vocal participation from about 60 students and faculty advisers from across the suburbs. Their comments persuaded her to submit the bill at the behest of Naperville …