US student journalists go dark fearing Trump crusade against pro-Palestinian speech

Student Journalists Silenced: Fear of Repercussions Leads to Article Retractions

Student journalists are increasingly removing their names from published articles, driven by fears of legal repercussions, online harassment, and professional setbacks. This wave of retractions comes amid escalating pressure from the Trump administration targeting students perceived as sympathetic to the pro-Palestinian movement. Concerns over free speech on university campuses are mounting as young reporters face intense scrutiny for their reporting and commentary.

Heightened Anxiety and Self-Censorship

Editors at university newspapers report a surge in anxiety among their writers. This unease has intensified following the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student. Ozturk, currently held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and facing deportation, penned an op-ed critical of Israel in a student publication last year. Although the government has not presented explicit justification for revoking her visa, her case has fueled fears that expressing certain viewpoints in writing is now considered grounds for deportation, prompting self-censorship among student writers.

International Students and Domestic Concerns

Ozturk is among nearly a dozen students and scholars apprehended by immigration authorities since March 8th, coinciding with the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student and green card holder. Khalil’s involvement in pro-Palestinian protests led to his detention and initiation of deportation proceedings. Student editors indicate that international students contributing to their publications are experiencing particularly heightened worry. However, requests to unpublish articles, fearing potential retaliation, are also originating from US citizens.

Columbia University: Articles Pulled Amid Pressure

Adam Kinder, editor of the Columbia Political Review at Columbia University, revealed that his publication has received requests to remove nearly a dozen articles and suspend the publication of over a dozen more. This response is attributed to growing pressure in recent weeks. Kinder confirmed his team has complied with these requests, stating, "For students who disagree with the Trump administration’s stance, they fear real retaliation."

Stanford Daily: Surge in Takedown Demands

The Stanford Daily at Stanford University has also witnessed a significant increase in takedown requests recently, according to its editor, Greta Reich. She described a rapid escalation: "One came in, then two, then five, then 10 – it just really started piling up very quickly." These requests encompass various concerns, from sources seeking anonymity to opinion writers wanting their names removed. Some even demand the obscuring of identifiable images. Reich also noted that a former staff editor, an international student, resigned entirely, fearing association with any publication that could lead to repercussions.

Staff Resignations and Hiatuses

Kinder reported that the Columbia Political Review has seen three staff writers resign and four others go on hiatus. These decisions stem from apprehensions that their connection to specific articles could endanger their safety or future career prospects.

Navigating an Ethical Quandary

These takedown requests present ethical dilemmas that are commonplace in newsrooms, and student publications are no exception. Young editors must navigate the complex balance between critical safety concerns and the fundamental journalistic principle of transparency. Some student papers are considering alternatives to complete removal, such as de-indexing contentious articles. De-indexing would remove articles from search engine results while keeping them accessible on their websites.

Exploring De-indexing as an Alternative

An editor at an Ivy League university, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, indicated their publication is evaluating this de-indexing strategy. "It became clear that no solution was going to be perfect. If you delete an article or leave it full of holes, it’s obvious something happened. That could just draw more attention," they explained. They also cautioned that complete article removal could be counterproductive, as content frequently remains available via web archives, including the Wayback Machine.

Cavalier Daily’s Shift in Stance

Historically, the Cavalier Daily at the University of Virginia has rejected takedown requests. However, editor Naima Sawaya acknowledged that the current environment is different and necessitates a re-evaluation of traditional practices. "One of our staffers, an immigrant, had to resign from our editorial board after we published pieces about Trump’s policies on universities, specifically regarding immigrants and pro-Palestine activism," she stated. The student was reportedly advised by the university’s international studies office that public association with these articles might jeopardize their visa status.

Safety Concerns Challenge Archival Role

Sawaya has traditionally considered the Cavalier Daily as an archive. "We try to emphasize to our staffers when we’re onboarding them that the things they write are becoming part of the historical record," she said. Nevertheless, recent concerns regarding student safety are prompting her to reconsider this viewpoint. "If a staffer today asked for a past article to be removed for their safety, I would remove it," she conceded.

NYU’s Approach: Stepping Back, Not Away

At New York University’s Washington Square News, editor Yezen Saadah stated that while his publication does not utilize anonymous bylines, they are finding ways to accommodate concerned contributors. "Some staff members have stepped back from reporting roles due to safety concerns, but they still contribute in other editorial capacities," he noted.

For students who disagree with the Trump administration’s stance, they fear real retaliation

Adam Kinder, editor of Columbia Political Review

Anonymization Requests on the Rise

An editor at a public university in California, who requested anonymity, reported a significant surge in anonymization requests since ICE began detaining international students. These requests range from opinion writers seeking to remove their names from articles critical of Israel or Trump to sources desiring to anonymize their quotes. They indicated that international students are now consistently requiring anonymity to speak with reporters.

Domestic Students Also Express Concerns

"Most requests come from international students, though domestic students have also expressed concerns," the California editor added.

Purdue Exponent Faces Backlash

In February, the Purdue Exponent, the student paper at Purdue University in Indiana, removed the names and images of student protesters advocating for Palestinian human rights from its website, citing safety concerns and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which prioritizes minimizing harm. An editorial announced, “Pro-Palestinian students are under attack, so we’re removing their names.” The paper immediately became the center of intense debate regarding journalistic ethics, and its editor reportedly received over 7,000 emails, including death threats.

Changing Landscape and Takedown Policies

Mike Hiestand, a lawyer at the Student Press Law Center, explained that while student media historically resisted takedown requests, the current climate is forcing a re-evaluation. “The reluctance to comply with takedown requests was based on a world that existed before January 2025,” Hiestand stated.

Ethical vs. Legal Concerns Evolving

Lindsie Rank, campus advocacy director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, emphasized the altered risk environment. “If one of these cases had called our hotline six months ago, our response would have been: ‘This isn’t really a legal issue. This is more of an ethical question.’ But that has changed,” she said.

Grappling with the New Reality

Sawaya from the Cavalier Daily has not yet removed any articles. However, like other editors, she is grappling with how this new political reality is impacting the journalism field she intends to enter upon graduation.

Fear Hinders Communication

"One of the hardest things right now is getting people to talk to us – even people whose job it is to talk to us, like university communications officials," Sawaya concluded. "It feels like there’s real fear."