Student Journalism At Its Best

A New York Times article caught my eye this morning. This time it did more than just pique my interest, it spoke to me. Students from Northwestern's school of journalism have been probing old criminal cases as a part of the Medill Innocence Project. They watch the watchdog. These students have investigated the work of police and prosecutors; they have been very effective in their work. The results these students produce is incredible. It included the release of 11 inmates and the reduction of death row sentences. Now they are under fire by prosecutors who have made ridiculous demands. They have subpoenaed for everything from grades to grading criteria to e-mails regarding interviews. These requests overstep boundaries set up by the law. If this can happen in Illinois, why couldn't it happen here? Why not to me? Lord knows I have been critical of the ASU administration. To a certain extent I feel these prosecutors are not just insulting the group of students at Northwestern, but moreover degrading the art of student journalism. Yes, we are not Andersen Cooper or Thomas Friedman, but we are the next generation of skeptics. If student journalism dies, who will watch the watchmen?