Purdue University Says First Amendment’s Important, But Safety First!

The
National Press Photographers Association has been pushing for
Purdue University to investigate on an incident that occurred on
campus during a shooting last month. The college newspaper’s photo
editor, a junior at the school, was
reportedly slammed to the ground by a campus cop while taking
photos in a building that had not been closed to the public. Purdue
has
now responded, telling the NPPA they would investigate the
matter. Legal counsel for Purdue wrote that the school agreed “in
principle” with the press association about First Amendment rights,
BUT:

At the same time, we hope there would be some
understanding, from even the most ardent protectors of our civil
liberties, of the extreme pressures and difficulties faced by first
responders whose first duty in such critical moments is and must be
the protection of students and other bystanders. Just as we share
your commitment to the principles enshrined in the First Amendment,
we are hesitant to second-guess the essential and often life-saving
judgment calls made on the spot by brave men and women who risk
their lives to ensure the safety of others in situations of high
stress and potentially great danger.

Read the full letter, via Poynter,
here.