Paper Shut Down

The Chimes, the student newspaper at Calvin College in Michigan, has been shut down for defying a censorship order by printing editorials and letters about counselors confidentiality polices.

Staff members at the weekly newspaper said they heard rumors last month that a college chaplain or a counselor had disclosed information given in confidence, and that another faculty member involved in the incident had resigned.

Keith Essenburg associate editor of the paper, said the staff began investigating the case, but could not substantiate the rumors..

Rod Ludema, editor of the paper, said he then wrote an editorial for the paper's March 4 issue asking. "Why had we been stonewalled? Why had the issue started?".

Despite warnings from faculty members and administration members. Chimes staff member voted 7.5 in favor of publishing the editorial.

After the article appeared, the paper was shut down by the college.

Calvin College is operated by the Christian Reformed Church in North America and has about 3800 students. The Associated Press