Sunday, November 3, 1991

Renegade Student Editor Fights Hillsdale Dismissal

HILLSDALE - Mark Nehls was drawn to Hillsdale College because of its commitment to freedom and private initiative, unhindered by government control.

But, Nehls charges, the theory has not trickled down. He claims he was expelled last week for publishing a renegade campus newspaper.

"There is an institutional or establishment correctness here, and if you don't come into accord with the institution, you are an enemy of the people," Nehls said.

Nehls, 19, a junior from Auburn, Calif., said he felt stifled by faculty control of the college weekly, The Collegian, so he began publishing the weekly Hillsdale Spectator off campus.

College officials said Nehls was not expelled because of the paper but because he improperly signed a business contract as treasurer of a student group.

"It has nothing to do with freedom of speech," said Carol Ann Barker, who is dean of women and adviser to the Collegian staff.

Nehls apparently contracted for some type of printed materials that would be funded by local business advertisements and distributed to students. He said no money changed hands.

Meanwhile, Nehls is appealing his dismissal to Hillsdale College President George C. Roche. Roche and other officials declined comment upon the advice of an attorney.

Although several daily newspapers are sold on campus, Barker barred Nehls from distributing the free Spectator on campus, Nehls said.

In editorials, Nehls has repeatedly asked Roche to practice what he preaches in books and speeches at fund-raisers for the 1,000-student liberal arts college.

He cited as hypocritical a recent article by Roche in the college publication, Imprimis, attacking "political correctness" at most universities.

"The University of Michigan has attempted to restrict First Amendment rights by establishing the most restrictive campuswide codes of acceptable/unacceptable behavior and speech," Roche wrote.

Nehls also pointed to a recent Ann Landers column quoting Roche regarding a parent's concern about sex and alcohol at a Massachusetts college.

"This behavior you describe generally does not occur on our campus," Roche replied to Landers.

To prove that it does, the Spectator makes numerous off-the-wall remarks about sex and nearly every issue features pictures of students hoisting bottles, cups and cans of beer. "I don't have a moral problem with pictures of beer," Nehls said. "That is college life."

Some students welcome the alternative to the administration-endorsed newspaper.

"The perception is that the Collegian is run by a religious group," said Mark Warner, a senior from Detroit. "The Spectator is definitely more of a real student newspaper."