EDITORIAL: Calling F&M's "Defiant Trespass" Bluff

Franklin & Marshall College hands out Defiant Trespass letters the way some people throw away Kleenex. It is their way of punishing those who disagree with their practices or policies. And they claim that banishment includes the restaurants of its lessees and events opened to the public on the campus.

John Fry, President of Franklin & Marshall College, apparently considers the college campus to be private property, with the same rights and privileges enjoyed by home ownership, to invite or ban who may come and go.

NewsLanc would agree that the residence the college provides for Fry enjoys the same protection as all other private homes.

But NewsLanc believes the campus to be a "Public Place" as defined as follows: "A place in this Commonwealth to which the general public has a right to resort. A public place need not be a place devoted solely to use by the public, but may be a place which is visited by many persons on a regular basis and is usually accessible to the neighboring public."

Unlike the Lancaster Newspapers and WGAL who at best report some of the news, NewsLanc investigates. After obtaining information from counsel, we will report back on this matter.