Who stole the LMU newspapers with the Alpha Phi hazing story?

[hoosier]

March_29, 2005

CALIFORNIA – A week after thousands of copies of Loyola Marymount University's student newspaper disappeared, three students admitted to taking and destroying them.

All 4,000 copies of the March 2 edition of the Los Angeles Loyolan were missing from news racks by the next day, which the newspaper's adviser Tom Nelson called "very unusual." The front page of the missing edition featured a story about the dismissal of the former president and vice president of a sorority for their alleged involvement in a hazing incident. A photo caption that accompanied the story misidentified one of the women pictured.

On March 9 the Loyolan published an article about the alleged theft, and the next day three students "confessed to taking the newspapers and destroying them," Nelson said. He said the students turned themselves in because they realized the seriousness of what they had done.

Nelson would not disclose who was responsible for the theft of the newspapers. Days after the theft occurred, Nelson said it was possible that the culprits may have been objecting to the "very controversial story" that the newspaper published about the Alpha Phi sorority.

Editor in Chief Jonathan Mendelson said the staff mistakenly printed the name of the former vice president of Alpha Phi under a picture of the new president.

Using the wrong name made things "exponentially worse," since Alpha Phi members were already upset because they found out why their former leaders were removed from the sorority from the March 2 article, Mendelson said. According to the article, an internal Alpha Phi judicial board made the decision to dismiss the two former leaders.

"We are trying to address our mistake in an appropriate and professional manner. However, I feel that destroying this edition of the newspaper because of an error or controversial story is an improper and illegal response," he said.

Nelson said the loss of this issue was particularly upsetting because a student had worked for months on a special 20-page insert about the university's 1990 basketball team. That year, the star player died of a heart attack on the court, but the team still made it to the quarterfinals in the NCAA tournament.

"Whoever stole the papers really tarnished and destroyed the really hard work on this other quite incredible section," Nelson said.

Nelson estimates the amount lost due to the missing papers is $2,200. He said the Loyolan will "certainly ask for remuneration in terms of printing costs."

University spokesman James Grant said the school expects all of its students to abide by the student code of conduct, which discourages theft.

"Whenever we can we attempt to respond if we feel the code of conduct has been potentially breached," Grant said.

According to the Loyolan, the office of public safety, which was investigating the case, referred it to the judicial affairs office, which will handle any potential sanctions.

–By Diane Krauthamer

[STL Kappa]

http://forums.greekchat.com/gcforums...t=alpha+formal

This sounds a little familiar...

Hundreds of copies of the student newspaper at Washington University were stolen last week after a story ran in it about Alpha Phi's formal, where the sorority was asked to leave City Museum after many members allegedly got too drunk and some even passed out.

[AGDee]

We have had posts about groups taking all the newspapers in the past too. What I always find ironic about this is... How do you steal something that's free? Does it say on the paper stands that it is illegal to take more than one? Am I wrong in assuming that they are free? Our campus newspaper always was free and we could just grab them from numerous places on campus.

Dee

[TxAPhi]

Originally posted by AGDee
We have had posts about groups taking all the newspapers in the past too. What I always find ironic about this is... How do you steal something that's free? Does it say on the paper stands that it is illegal to take more than one? Am I wrong in assuming that they are free? Our campus newspaper always was free and we could just grab them from numerous places on campus.
Dee

I was wondering the same thing as I remember this happening once or twice while I was in school - http://www.splc.org/pdf/utexastheft.pdf


The Student Press Law Center tracks these cases:
http://www.splc.org/newspapertheft.asp

Many "free papers", in lieu of a price, include language such as the following: "Single copies free." In their masthead and rate card they may include information indicating that single copies are free to members of the school community and that multiple copies may be available for purchase at an established price by contacting the newspaper's business office.

The following language is an example: "Because of high production costs, members of the State University community are permitted one copy per issue. Where available, additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting the Student Times business office. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline."

"Free" distribution newspapers are not free, theft can cause the publication to suffer monetary harm. The paper can claim: (1) printing costs, (2) delivery costs, (3) production costs (e.g., wire/photo service charges, graphic art fees, telephone and postage expenses, office supplies, photo supplies, etc.), (4) special printing/production fees associated with a "rush" job should you decide to reprint the paper, (5) salary for publication staff, (6) revenue that may need to be refunded to advertisers, etc.

For example, if an advertiser paid $2,000 to run an ad and only 50% of the newspapers were actually circulated, advertiser goodwill, if not the law, suggests that the publication may owe the advertiser a refund of $1,000. That is a legitimate, quantifiable loss.


Punishing Newspaper Thieves:

Criminal prosecution. Possible charges include: larceny, petty theft, criminal mischief or destruction of property. Though not necessary to prosecute a theft, Maryland and Colorado have a specific state law making the taking of a free distribution newspaper a crime. Ultimately the decision to pursue criminal charges is up to the local prosecutor.

Campus disciplinary action. Even if there is insufficient evidence or grounds for criminal prosecution, newspaper thieves can be punished by campus officials for their misbehavior. While pursuing such punishment is also up to those issuing the discipline, student media can keep pressure on campus officials to take appropriate action and then follow up on the outcome.

Civil lawsuit for damages. This type of claim is solely in your hands and can be a way to recover financial losses suffered by the newspaper. Depending on the amount of loss (frequently a maximum of $2,500), student media may be able to pursue this claim on their own in small claims court for minimum cost and without the expense of an attorney. You will need to have carefully documented evidence of your losses. If small claims court is not an option, you will probably need to hire an attorney. The SPLC can discuss this option with you in more detail.

[AGDee]

Good to know! Thanks for taking the time to look that up. I wonder what the statute of limitations is on that one. I know I took more than one numerous times in my college career!

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by AGDee
I know I took more than one numerous times in my college career!

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