Faculty in the News
In the News
Sex issue at private Kan. university goes missing
Publication date: March 16, 2011
Source: Student Press Law Center
Author: Kyle McDonald
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A story about the disappearance of a specific issue of the Ottawa University student newspaper, which drew national attention, quotes Mike Kautsch, professor of law.
The Student Press Law Center wrote:
Mike Kautsch, a University of Kansas media law professor, said with or without a price statement, a free newspaper has value.
“I realize that in some jurisdictions there’s been a question as to whether a free student newspaper has a value, which is normally a precondition of making out a case,” Kautsch said. “Even in the absence of some statement within the newspaper to the effect that the paper has value, I don’t think it’s very difficult to show that it does.”
Kautsch referenced two Kansas statutes on theft and criminal damage to property, both of which he said could be applied to the disappearance of a free newspaper.
“Under the Kansas statutes, it would be a relatively simply matter to launch a prosecution for the theft of a newspaper, even if it’s characterized as free,” Kautsch said.