Overview

• Staff from Purdue’s Exponent distributed about 3,000 special print copies around Indiana University’s Bloomington campus with a front-page call for student journalists to stand together.
• The special issue featured op-eds from both editors in chief, reporting on the state of student media at the two schools, and QR codes linking to donation pages for each newsroom.
• The action followed IU’s suspension of the Indiana Daily Student’s print edition and the dismissal of student media director Jim Rodenbush after he reportedly refused to censor the Oct. 16 homecoming paper.
• The Exponent initially offered to print the canceled IDS edition, but IDS leaders declined over concerns it could put staff or employees in a difficult position with the university.
• IU journalism faculty condemned the print cutoff and demanded an independent accounting and restoration of printed special editions, while alumnus Mark Cuban publicly criticized the decision and pointed to his prior financial support.