Indiana high school students now subject to prior review

Students met with a school official Monday to discuss the controversy over an opinion article on societal attitudes about homosexuality published in an East Allen County School District student newspaper that ultimately led to a principal’s demand for future prior review of the publication.

Megan Chase, a sophomore at Woodlan Junior-Senior High School and writer for The Tomahawk, wrote a column for the newspaper’s Jan. 19 issue that discussed tolerance for and the religious objections to homosexuality.

After distribution, Principal Edwin Yoder contacted the newspaper and adviser through a letter that said he must review all issues prior to printing, according to Assistant Superintendent Andy Melin.

Amy Sorrell, the Tomahawk‘s adviser, also received a written warning for “insubordination and not carrying out her responsibilities as a teacher” that threatened disciplinary action or possible termination should another incident like this occur, according to the Journal Gazette, a community newspaper in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Speaking on behalf of Yoder, school district attorney Tim McCaulay said that the conflict is one of personnel not following the rules, because the newspaper’s adviser did not bring the potentially controversial piece to the principal.