CHINA: Obscene Articles Tribunal rules 'Student Press' sex column indecent

In brief: Chinese University's student journal protests the tribunal's decision

By Melissa Wang
AsiaMedia Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Obscene Articles Tribunal ruled yesterday that the sex cloumn published by Student Press as indecent, the South China Morning Post reported. The Feburary and March issues of the Chinese University's student journal were determined to be a class II indecent, which means they included materials not suitable for readers under the age of 18. The April issue was ruled neither obscene nor indecent.

The journal's editorial board continues to stand by their column. The board insists that their issues were not indecent or obscene. Approximately 20 past and present members of the board and other student representatives gathered outside of the tribunal and chanted against the unfair treatment of the publication.

The current editorial board claims that the two issues that were classified as indecent were published by the previous board and that the current board should not be penalized. The students also wanted Chinese University to retract the warning letters issued to the present editorial staff.

Chinese University officials and the students of the journal will meet tomorrow to discuss the issue. The students have five days to apply for a review of the tribunal's ruling.

Date Posted: 5/16/2007