SPJ Calls for Reinstatement of Northern Michigan University Student Newspaper Adviser

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Society of Professional Journalists calls on the Board of Directors of the North Wind student newspaper and website at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., to reinstate its editorial adviser Cheryl Reed and reconsider the application of student Michael Williams seeking the position of editor for 2015-16.

The Board violated First Amendment principles in dismissing Reed and rejecting Williams April 3 as it made clear it disagreed with the editorial direction of North Wind. The Friday vote came eight days after the chair of the university's Board of Trustees sent an all-campus email disparaging North Wind's coverage of travel expenses of members of that board.