On Oct. 7, 2025, five current students and one former student filed a list of grievances through an attorney with “The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press” and on Oct. 27 filed another list of grievances with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) against :
- Todd Lamb, the University President
- Elizabeth Maier, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
- Michael Breslin, Chair, Department of Mass Communications
- Erika Williams, The Faculty Advisor for The Vista
These lists claimed that these individuals infringed on these students’ First Amendment rights by ceasing to print The Vista as a form of retaliation against them for writing or supporting critical content of UCO. These students announced on October 7 through pamphlets that they would start their own paper, “The Independent View,” later in the month, which would not be affiliated with the university.
The Vista takes all claims of university corruption and retaliation against students and faculty seriously. Throughout the semester, The Vista has investigated the claims made by these students against the university and the individuals listed above, and here is what we found.
Claims of UCO Retaliating against “Pro-Print” Students:…