Student journalists in Mexico have taken a hard hit as a university’s unjust act of censorship violated a constitutional right: freedom of speech.La Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, is TCU’s sister university. And its student newspaper, La Catarina, was gagged by university administrators and campus police Jan. 16 in possible retaliation for a series of controversial cartoons of Chancellor Pedro Palou. Staff members were abruptly evicted, snatching personal belongings as they were ordered to leave.

Student reporter Astrid Viveros said staff members were even restricted from returning to the newsroom to back up computer files.

“The administration went to the extent of cutting off the electricity in our office to prevent us from doing so,” she said.

Now, the administration intends to call the shots and supervise La Catarina’s content, calling it a “service project.” Thus, the very institution that aims to educate its students is robbing them of the opportunity to learn in an independent environment, which is meant to teach students to be responsible and learn from their mistakes. Also, the university is stripping away the voice of the newspaper, which consequently will stifle the voice of the student body. It would suffice to say that UDLA is taking a giant step backward.

While the Mexican Constitution differs from the U.S. Constitution, freedom of the press remains unwavering.

According to Article 7 of the Constitution of Mexico, “Freedom of writing and publishing writings on any subject is inviolable. No law or authority may establish censorship, require bonds from authors or printers, or restrict the freedom of printing, which shall be limited only by the respect due to private life, morals and public peace.”

It’s doubtful that a couple of cartoons in a student newspaper qualify as disturbing the public peace. This vicious event is nothing more than an attempt to protect the reputation of an image-conscious chancellor. The administration should realize that a student-run newspaper is just that. And the purpose of an editorial cartoon is to express the view of the cartoonist, not the university.

Unfortunately, the idea of censoring the media hits closer to home than our sister university in Mexico. Skiff staff members combat similar obstacles when attempting to complete their journalistic duties. Some university officials at TCU try to dictate the interview process or withhold information that should be public knowledge.

Informing readers of information that is rightfully theirs can be near to impossible when sources on campus are more concerned with their reputations than offering truth to the TCU community. In actuality, character is measured by honesty. And only the sources who are honest with students, faculty and staff are worthy of admiration. The TCU community should look to university officials who remain the models of honest educators, aiding student journalists in their pursuit of the truth.

It’s imperative for UDLA and TCU to realize that student journalists have the right to print the news to inform their college communities on current events from basketball scores to philanthropies to controversial scandals. The intent of a newspaper is not to present libelous content but to educate its readership. It’s referred to as freedom of the press.

Sadly, UDLA may never see freedom of the press on its campus again. A student newspaper under the authority of university administration is only a step away from journalistic communism.

Opinion editor Lindsey Bever is a junior news-editorial journalism major from Fort Worth.