Ohio School Paper Confiscated over Article

http://www.post-gazette.com/firstamendment/20021223woosterp5.asp

An Ohio school paper was confiscated after an article was published that quoting teen drinkers that attended a party (not a school sanctioned function). The Superintendent claims that the papers were pulled because there were potentially libelous statements and inaccuracies with the article in question. However some students believe that the paper was actually pulled because one of the board members children was one of the students quoted in the article.

The students then contacted the Student Press Center and had the article reviewed by a lawyer on their staff. The lawyer found that there was no libel in the story and that it good journalism.

Was this a violation of the students first ammendment? It appears that this particular school paper is an extra-curricular activity and not part of a class within a public school. While the student paper has an advisor who typically reviews articles, the school officials have little to do with the paper in other aspects. It looks like this could have easily been a cover up as they did not want quotes from the board members daughter getting out to the public regarding her adventures in partying and underage drinking.