Student media director Marti Harvey also delivered this edict to the editors: You cannot be advised by Koretzky on campus – or even off campus.
(Last week, I advised the editors in an Irish pub where the photo editor works. Thankfully, no FAU cops were there to cuff me.)
Marti's threat of punishment was vague, other than to imply the editor-in-chief could be brought up on student conduct charges if she or her staff meets with me.
Our unintimidated EIC is Karla Bowsher. She recorded Marti's comments – with permission, of course – and immediately called the Student Press Law Center, located outside Washington, DC.
SPLC attorney Adam Goldstein told Karla she'd have a big fat lawsuit if FAU punished her for meeting me off campus...
If what they’re really saying is, "You can’t talk to him on your own time," they can’t enforce that. Because that’s a flat-out freedom-of-association violation. You can’t just say, "You can’t talk to people."
After speaking with Goldstein, Karla went back to Marti – who stood by her words. Saying she was quoting the FAU attorney's office, Marti insisted...
You cannot meet with him – on campus or off campus – for the purpose of advising. That’s going beyond the scope of your authority.
Karla asked, "So, if he comes as a guest speaker, that’s still OK?"
Marti replied, "No comment."
And that's how the conversation ended – with a student media director refusing to talk to a student media leader. Read more about FAU's efforts to control Karla's off-campus life on her blog. Suffice to say, she's not backing down.
As for being called an "adviser" – the editors have refused to drop my name from the staff box – Goldstein told me yesterday afternoon...
"Adviser" is an ordinary English word, and I don't think they can decide you're not allowed to use it. The students can list you as anything they want in their staff box, even "cookie monster."
Goldstein seemed incredulous at these latest developments.
"Is this really the hill they want to die on?" he said. "I can't imagine them winning this one."
TOMORROW: My replacement is promoted before he's even hired.
