Penn State removes its student newspaper racks over concerns about political ads

Penn State removed nearly three dozen racks containing its independent student-produced newspaper from on-campus locations this week because politics-related ads on the racks violated school policy.

The Daily Collegian reports they were not notified of the racks’ removal Wednesday night and have not been told where they are being stored. However, they said they expected the racks to be returned sometime Friday without the ads.

The newspaper said there were about 35 racks overall inside various buildings on the school’s campus in State College, with three running an ad for Vice President Kamala Harris and six running voter registration ads in poster space above the newspapers. The other racks did not have posters.

The newspaper said it received feedback from alumni and students about the ads, though it was not clear if the comments were supportive and/or critical. The Daily Collegian said it was notified of the university’s concerns Wednesday via an off-the-record conversation.

There was a discussion with the newspaper’s general manager, Wayne Lowman, about the ads possibly violating university rules. But the newspaper said Lowman was never notified of plans to remove the newsstands.

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