Arkansas § 6-60-1102 - Students' right of expression.

§ 6-60-1102. Students' right of expression.

Except as provided in § 6-60-1103, a student journalist has the right to engage in protected activities in school-sponsored media. This right exists regardless of whether the school-sponsored media are: Supported financially by the public institution of higher education; Produced using the facilities of the public institution of higher education; or Produced in conjunction with a class in which the student journalist is enrolled at the public institution of higher education. A student journalist is responsible for determining the news, opinions, features, and advertising content of any school-sponsored media, except as provided in § 6-60-1103. This section does not prevent a student media adviser or academic supervisor from teaching student journalists professional standards and responsibilities with respect to the English language and journalism or using professional academic judgment to assign work or evaluate the student journalist's performance as a journalist. A student media adviser shall not be dismissed, suspended, or disciplined for: Protecting a student journalist who engages in a protected activity under this subchapter; or Refusing to infringe on a student journalist's right to engage in a protected activity under this subchapter. A student journalist who engages in a protected activity under this subchapter does not represent an expression of the policy of a public institution of higher education. The following institutions and individuals shall not be liable in any civil or criminal action for actions taken by a student journalist who engages in a protected activity under this subchapter: A public institution of higher education; An official of a public institution of higher education; An employee of a public institution of higher education; or A parent or legal guardian of a student journalist.