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State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, sponsored Senate Bill 1988,
which would amend the College Campus Press Act.
State Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, asked Koehler if college media
didn’t think the First Amendment of the Constitution would
protect them.
“This grew out of their desire to make sure that the First
Amendment was protecting them. I don’t know what to say to that.
Again, I’m bringing this forward because they seemed to think
they needed it,” Koehler said.
Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, told Koehler that one provision of
the bill could allow blanket immunity for state actors.
“The citizens of the state of Illinois have a right not to be
libeled by their own government, which in this case, any
state-owned public institution of higher education would be
state-owned,” Rose said.
Under Senate Bill 1988, state-sponsored institutions of higher
learning would be immune from lawsuits arising from expression
made by public media at such institutions.
Rose asked Koehler what recourse or opportunity for retraction
people would have if they were slandered by state-owned media on
college campuses.
Koehler insisted his bill was a simple one.
“It just said that, in terms of media that are located at
college campuses, they have protections of freedom of the
press,” Koehler said.
Rose explained his concerns more than once.
“I have absolutely nothing against the rest of your bill and
would be more than happy to vote for the rest of your bill, but
we cannot grant blanket immunity against a libel suit for
knowingly false information,” Rose said.
Rose said Illinois citizens have a right not to be libeled by
their own government.
Koehler said college media have a right to freedom of
expression.
“If someone wants to sue, you sue the media. You don’t sue the
university,” Koehler said.
“They are the university,” Rose said.
The measure is now in the Illinois House Judiciary Civil
Committee. |
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