The Exponent, established in 1889, is published by the Purdue Student Publishing Foundation and is primarily a student-run operation. (Photo/The Exponent)

The story was originally published by The Exponent.

By Exponent Summer Staff
The Exponent
June 5, 2025

About 3:15 p.m. Friday, Purdue sent an email to The Purdue Exponent stating the university will no longer facilitate distribution of the papers on campus.

According to the email sent by Purdue’s Office of Legal Counsel, the university cited the end of a licensing contract from 2014, albeit the university and The Exponent operated under that agreement for 11 years since its expiration. The university also cited its policy on institutional neutrality, which had been updated in June 2024.

On Monday, Purdue’s policy changes went into effect. It is estimated that approximately 1/3 of The Exponent’s papers made it to their intended destinations on Purdue’s campus and in surrounding West Lafayette. The change raises multiple questions, including in regards to the First Amendment.

The Purdue Student Publishing Foundation board (PSPF) unanimously passed the following statement at its meeting Wednesday night: “The PSPF is shocked by Purdue’s sudden and seemingly-without-explanation change in policy, which runs counter to its long-standing commitment to the freedoms of the press afforded in the First Amendment. The Exponent is committed to continuing its mission to serve the informational needs of Purdue and the surrounding community and to provide a realistic media working environment for Purdue students.”

The Exponent will still continue to publish and print its newspaper.

Background

Throughout their shared history, the PSPF, the non-for-profit which operates the Exponent, and Purdue have maintained distribution agreements in various forms, dating back at least to 1975. Starting in 1998, the Exponent would drop off papers at Purdue’s Materials Management and Distribution Center and at loading docks at various buildings on campus. Staff of the university would distribute them to newspaper racks at no cost.

The Exponent sent another contract in 2014 to renew the conditions of the agreement for another five years, but Purdue never signed it. Despite this, the terms of the previous contracts have been upheld by both parties until last Friday, when Purdue announced it would no longer participate in the distribution of The Purdue Exponent. In the email, the university stated The Exponent could deliver newspapers into racks itself, without university assistance, but many buildings on campus are closed to the public during early morning delivery hours.

Additionally, the university asked for The Purdue Exponent to no longer use the word “Purdue” for all commercial uses, even though the Purdue Student Publishing Foundation has a trademark on the name “The Purdue Exponent” until 2029.

The university also stated it will no longer allow The Purdue Exponent to purchase parking passes for the Northwestern Parking Garage. The Exponent has been allowed to purchase a limited amount of parking permits due to an agreement from 1987, when the PSPF sold a portion of land to the university for construction of the Northwestern Parking Garage. This agreement stated it would only terminate “should Purdue University discontinue the use of the garage for parking purposes, replace the facility with a non-parking structure, or for any reason dispose of the property altogether.”

Wednesday, the Exponent reached out to the Purdue Office of Legal Counsel to clarify why the university decided to change its policy regarding the distribution of the paper. The legal office did not respond in time for publication.

First Amendment

Following the restrictions from Purdue, The Exponent contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which is dedicated to defending free speech primarily on college campuses.

“Purdue’s moves are unacceptable and represent not only a distortion of trademark law but a betrayal of the university’s First Amendment obligations to uphold free expression,” said Dominic Coletti, a student press program officer for FIRE.

“Breaking longstanding practice to hinder student journalism is not a sign of institutional neutrality; it is a sign of institutional cowardice,” he said.

The restriction of distribution of papers will make it harder for The Purdue Exponent to inform Boilermakers on campus of pertinent local news in a timely manner.

“We have to stand for our freedoms, and one of these important freedoms is the freedom of the press,” said Chris Campbell, the West Lafayette State House representative and a Purdue alumna. “Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are important constitutional rights. I know this is an attempt to possibly suppress those rights.

“I will support freedom of speech and I stand with you.”

Local politician reactions

Purdue has seemingly ended a 50-year distribution agreement, and long-standing members of the community were concerned with what the changes would mean for The Exponent.

State House representatives and Purdue alumni Sheila Klinker and Campbell were shocked by Purdue’s behavior.

“I think it’s important you get back some of your positive situations like distribution,” Klinker said.

“I’m very sad. (The Exponent) was your avenue (as a student) to know what was going on. With The Exponent, you found out.”

Campbell echoed this importance of the paper to her when she was a student.

“As a Purdue grad, The Exponent was an important part of how I received information on campus,” Campbell said. “We are living in a time when access to information is very important.”

Campbell voiced concerns about the future of journalism.

“(The entire state) has become a media desert … It’s hard to know where to get legitimate information nowadays,” she said.

The future of the relationship between Purdue and The Exponent is uncertain.

“I’m concerned about The Exponent. It’s concerning Purdue has taken this stance,” Campbell said.

“I think it’s an important relationship (between Purdue and The Exponent),” Klinker said. “I’m very upset that Purdue is changing.”

The Purdue Exponent is the number one multimedia news agency independent of the university serving Purdue students, faculty, staff and the Greater Lafayette community via a printed newspaper, web and social media. The Exponent, published by the not-for-profit Purdue Student Publishing Foundation, is primarily a student operation, with over 100 students publishing the newspaper and online editions, and working in advertising and marketing. Student staff members receive stipends for their work.




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