Close to Home: University of the Censored Word Incarnate

Mendell D. Morgan, Jr, the Head Librarian at San Antonio's University of the Incarnate Word has cancelled the library's subscription to the New York Times in protest, claiming that the paper's recent stories exposing a secret government program that monitors international financial transactions in the hunt for terrorists is a violation of the war effort.

"Since no one elected the New York Times to determine national security policy, the only action I know to register protest for their irresponsible action (treason?) is to withdraw support of their operations by canceling our subscription as many others are doing," Mendell D. Morgan, Jr. wrote in a June 28 email to library staff. "If enough do, perhaps they will get the point." (MySA.com)

The decision has angered the library staff, who have publicly (while Morgan vacations) voiced their displeasure at the situation. They're probably also aware of the fact that, despite being a ludicrous attempt to suppress the students' freedom to choose their own reading material and news sources, the so-called protest isn't even comprehensive, since the Times isn't the only periodical that ran the story.

Morgan wrote a letter to the Times, explaining his reasons for cancelling the subscription.

I have cancelled the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Library subscription to the print version of the New York Times effective today. For some years, many have observed a change in quality and shift in coverage in what was once “the national newspaper of record”. Recently they made a very deliberate decision to publish vital intelligence information on specific methods of SWIFT for tracing money transfers used to fund terrorist activities in many parts of the world.

The full text of his email can be found here, as well as contact information for the school's president.

* Photo by rammag from stock.xchng

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By Paige Maguire in News on June 30, 2006 1:50 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Kenneth

Irony alert: Yes, the students can just read the entire news content of each day's Times at nytimes.com. Problem is, the paper's op/ed columnists are behind a firewall and only available to "TimesSelect" subscribers. So all Mr. Morgan's "protest" has succeeded in doing is prevent UIW students from reading the pro-administration, neocon blatherings of William Safire and David Brooks. Good job!

Jaxebad

Humbug,

The problem is that his decision goes against everything librarians stand for. People should have access to all viewpoints, not just those that are politically fashionable at the time. Also, this librarian is abusing his position by using it to enforce his own political viewpoints, which NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH.

Jaxebast

odam

come on, where's "Gladiator?" Already out buying his Flagy and Ribbony Beany Babies and fireworks?

I imagine after the line for Lee Greenwood tickets dies down a bit he will be showing up. Or maybe he is out buying up all the old WSJs, so nobody realizes the story ran there, as well. Wait for it...

Derek

So, this "so-called protest" (what does that even mean?) is an "attempt to supress [sic] the students' freedom to choose their own reading material and news sources."

Does that even make sense to the person who wrote it?

One presumes they have the Internet at that school. I'm guessing most of those students can Google the New York Times if they want to read it.

Trotting out some weak censorship claims simply muddies the point of your article, which, on second thought, I'm having trouble discerning.

Bah Humbug

What is the problem here?

If the head librarian at a private intitution wants to cancel a subscription to a newspaper, so be it.

Personally, I think that the NY Times ought to have its White House press credentials revoked.

The Times delights in tormenting Pres. Bush and will stop at nothing to do so.