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CENSORED - Around150 newspapers were replaced in the newsstand at the entrance of Swinney Recreation Center after police paid the building manager a visit.

Swinney censors paper

Administration unaware of newspaper's removal

By: Ahsan Latif

Posted: 4/19/04

Employees of Swinney Recreation Center removed some 450 copies of the University News from the building's newsstand last week in addition to cutting power to the stand's lighted advertisement and scrolling marquee.

After a complaint was filed with the campus police on Saturday, officers investigated the matter and confirmed that the papers had been removed by Swinney's building manager because of their content. The issue featured a front-page article titled "Sex at Swinney," which confirmed that Swinney officials are aware that sexual activity had been taking place in the sauna inside the men's locker room and that a new locker room attendant position had been created in part to discourage such activities.

Officer Chris Cobb said that he had met with James F. Byland, building operations coordinator at Swinney, who told him that the papers had been removed and the newsstand unplugged because the University officials were conducting tours of the recreation center for incoming students during last week's freshmen orientation. The newsstand was unplugged because the scrolling marquee continued to flash "Sex at Swinney" even after the papers had been removed.

"Basically they didn't want kids coming in there with their parents and seeing this story right as they were walking in the facilities," said Cobb, who said that it was the building manager's right to make the decision because "it's his building."

Vice Chancellor Pat Long said she was unaware of the decision by employees of Swinney to remove the papers. In a message left Sunday morning, Long said that it is not the policy of the University to censor the student newspaper and that neither she nor other administrators provided input to the decision.

Long added that discussion will take place this week on why the papers were removed and to determine what power a building manager does or does not have when it comes to the display of newspapers, advertisements and newsstands. After the officer's visit to the center, roughly 150 newspaper were returned to the newsstand, although it was uncertain whether they were removed from another newsstand or, if the original 450 newspapers were preserved, why the other 300 papers were not also returned. At that time employees had not yet plugged the newsstand back in.

Byland said that he could not comment on the matter until his immediate supervisor, Director of Swinney Marsha Pirtle, gave him permission to discuss the issue. Byland did say that Pirtle was at a conference in the Albuquerque where she may not be able to return calls because she may be participating in a mountain hike. "She's the one that signs my checks," said Byland, speaking from his office Saturday afternoon.

Byland would not confirm whether the papers had been thrown away or simply stored until after the orientation. He also would not comment on when the papers were removed or if any plans were made to return them to the stand after freshman orientation, which took place Saturday.

alatif@unews.com