FREEDOM OF PRESS in York will to end before Christmas, if plans by YUSU officers go ahead.
Key YUSU Sabbs are plotting to censor every part of University media, including Nouse, Vision, YSTV, URY and campus magazines.
An emergency meeting will be held by York Media later this week in an attempt to get YUSU to drop the proposals.
But it has already been suggested that the changes, which have not previously been made public, will be forced through regardless.
If new rules are passed, all media would have to be approved by YUSU, who would be free to edit it.
YUSU would also be able to judge any piece on the grounds of “student welfare” which has no clear limits.
One Sabb has even suggested that York Media should not be allowed to mention a students’ criminal conviction, even if the national press were covering it.
So far, no decisions have been made and YUSU do not have an official position on censorship.
However, officers have known the proposals are set to be raised for a number of weeks but no attempt has so far been made to consult media groups.
The plans would mean the entire content of York’s media output would be controlled by the six student sabbs.
URY Station Manager Scott Bryan blasted the proposals claiming: “It would be completely unworkable! YUSU don’t realise how damaging these changes would be. They’re ridiculous.”
Vision has also slammed the plans and has already warned YUSU that they could seriously damage York’s media and freedom of press.