fall05
Sponsored by 710 BookStore - - - http://www.seventen.com/SIUC Police confiscate photo student's film
Zack Quaintance
Daily Egyptian
SIU police officers confiscated a roll of film and a University ID from a photojournalism student Wednesday after he photographed authorities making an arrest outside Quigley Hall.
Matthew Bowie, a junior from Kildeer who had shot the photographs, said police threatened him with jail and suspension from school if he did not hand over the film in his camera. After the film was returned to Bowie Thursday afternoon, the film had been exposed to light and some exposures were fogged.
University Police Chief Todd Sigler said he has agreed to meet with Bowie's professor, James Kelly. Sigler would not further comment on the incident, saying he has yet to fully read the police report.
Bowie, Phil Greer, Kelly and School of Journalism Director Walter Jaehnig retrieved the items from SIU Police Thursday morning. Kelly and photojournalist-in-residence Greer were outraged and said people have the right to take pictures in a public place.
At the time, Bowie felt the police may have been overstepping the law, but said, "When they threatened suspension, it added a little weight to my decision."
He surrendered the film to police, and later that day told professors about what happened.
"Under law, they had no reason which to tell him he could be arrested for taking photographs," Kelly said.
The only situation in which the government can confiscate photos is in a war zone or during a military crisis. Greer and Kelly said unless the area outside Quigley Hall fell into either of those categories, officers could not take Bowie's film.
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper of SIUC, is committed to being a trusted source of information, commentary and public discourse while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester. The Pulse, Carbondale Entertainment Guide, is published once a week on Thursday.Last update: Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 7:56:16 PM
Copyright 2009 fall05