More than 1,000 copies of The Auburn Plainsman were stolen from seven locations throughout campus, Thursday, Aug. 28. Newspapers were discovered stolen from five locations in the Student Center, as well as from racks in Parker Hall, the Science Center Classrooms, Lowder Hall, Shelby Center and Foy Dining Hall.
The weekly newspapers were stolen between approximately 8:30-10 a.m.
A police report was filed with the Auburn Police Division.
The matter has been turned over to Public Safety.
According to the Student Press Law Center, possible charges for stealing newspapers can include theft of property, larceny, criminal mischief or destruction of property.
"Even if there is insufficient evidence or grounds for criminal prosecution, newspaper thieves can be punished by campus officials for their misbehavior," SPLC states on their website.
Although The Plainsman print edition is free to students, faculty and staff, the value of each week's print edition includes printing fees, delivery costs, production costs, special printing and production fees, staff and faculty salaries and revenue that may need to be refunded to advertisers.
Police and Public Safety are continuing to investigate the matter.
The Plainsman's official statement:
"This morning, at approximately 10 a.m., a Plainsman adviser noticed that newspaper racks were empty throughout the Student Center. With the print edition hitting racks each Thursday morning before 8 a.m., it was highly unusual the racks would be emptied in less than two hours. Upon further inspection of racks throughout the Student Center and interviews with distributors, it was discovered that more than 800 newspapers were taken from five racks in the Student Center. Since then, we have discovered newspapers missing from other buildings across campus. The theft was immediately reported to the Auburn Police Division, who has forwarded the report to Public Safety in order to review video and other evidence. While the print product is free to Auburn students, faculty, staff and the community, the product is not free from cost to The Plainsman. Production expenses each week include, but are not limited to, printing costs, delivery costs, special section inserts and staff salaries. Any theft of papers in an attempt to censor content will be followed up by any means necessary, including criminal prosecution, civil action for restitution of lost funds and campus disciplinary action. We value our First Amendment right to disseminate information to the public through our products, and we hope those responsible for infringing upon those rights will come forward and do the right thing."
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