Police called on two Maryland student reporters covering Mike Locksley’s firing outside football complex
Two University of Maryland student reporters say police questioned them while they were trying to speak with players after the university announced it was parting ways with football coach Mike Locksley. The incident has raised questions about how the university handled journalists reporting on a major campus story and their right to work in public spaces.
The reporters, Nolan Rogalski and Jude Wilkenfeld of SB Nation’s Testudo Times, said an athletics staff member photographed them and police were called over “suspicious activity”. Maryland and campus police said security around athletics facilities had been increased because of recent concerns about staff and player safety. An officer recorded the students’ IDs, but no report was filed; the university said it respects journalists’ First Amendment rights.
In short
- Maryland dismissed coach Mike Locksley after five straight defeats.
- Two student reporters say police questioned them outside the football complex.
- The university cited heightened security and affirmed journalists’ First Amendment rights.
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The case for
The university can reasonably argue that heightened security around athletics facilities was warranted by recent concerns about staff and player safety, and that staff were entitled to check on unfamiliar people in the area. The brief identity check, with no report filed, may be seen as a precautionary response rather than an attempt to prevent reporting.
The case against
The reporters can reasonably argue that they were doing ordinary journalistic work on a major campus story and that photographing them and calling police over “suspicious activity” risked chilling that work. Even without an arrest or formal report, questioning student journalists in a public space raises concerns about press freedom and whether security measures were applied appropriately.