Cover, The Minnesota Daily First Amendment Issue, November 4, 1996
Cover, The Minnesota Daily First Amendment Issue, November 16, 1998
In 1996, The Minnesota Daily co-sponsored a First Amendment Celebration, a week filled with events that addressed topical issues related to the freedoms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
In conjunction with the celebration, the Daily initiated a special First Amendment Issue. Published annually from 1996-1999, these special issues featured articles on broad matters of expression and highlighted how Daily staff endeavored to maintain the freedom of the press.
The 1999 issue included the article, “Former Daily editor fought for free speech,” which recounted the efforts of Daily Editor-in-Chief Michelle Ames, who defied a court subpoena in 1996 by refusing to release unpublished photographs from a campus demonstration to Hennepin County prosecutors for use in a criminal trial.
Another article, "Notorious Daily issue caused chaos, lawsuit for rights,” acknowledged the 20th anniversary of the Daily’s 1979 Finals Week issue, and reflected on the precedent set by Stanley v. Magrath, the lawsuit filed to challenge the action by the Board of Regents to revoke mandatory student fee support for the Daily.
Evidence of that precedent in practice can be found in an excerpt from a 1995 letter written by University President Nils Hasselmo in response to criticism over content published in the Daily. Hasselmo cited a passage from the ruling in Stanley v. Magrath and included a copy of the case with his reply.
Letter, University President Nils Hasselmo, citing Stanley v. Magrath in response to criticism of the Daily, 1995
Article Clipping, "Former Daily editor fought for free speech," The Minnesota Daily, November 15, 1999
Article Headline Clipping, "Notorious Daily issue caused chaos, lawsuit for rights," The Minnesota Daily, November 15, 1999
