To the editor:

I just read your Oct. 26 news story headlined “Haskell president warns student editor against ‘attacks,’ threatens discipline …”

I read the news story, the email correspondence between student Jared Nally and the police department, and the “directive” that Haskell President Ronald Graham sent to Nally. I was astonished and disappointed. President Graham displays a stunning level of ignorance of the First Amendment. The freedom of speech and of the press both deserve respect. This is especially important in the realm of higher education. President Graham’s flagrant disregard of Nally’s rights is indecent.

I suppose it is possible that Nally has misbehaved in some way, but the presented information contains no evidence of that. President Graham ought to be ashamed of himself.

Will Manly,

Lawrence