‘He knew so much, and in him passing we will lose so much’

The impact of IU Student Media Director Dave Adams’ passion for free student press extended far beyond IU. \nHe acted as executive director of the Journalism Education Association, faculty adviser on the Indiana Collegiate Press Association board, leader of College Media Advisers and held various other positions, making him well-known as an advocate for students’ First Amendment rights. Dave was a regular speaker at conferences and continued working for his cause up until his unexpected death Saturday.\n“I knew him to be ever-vigilant in trying to help out where student rights were infringed upon,” said friend Karen Bosley. Bosley and Dave were on the CMA board together for more than 30 years.\nBosley remembers one time when Dave and a colleague traveled to Ocean County College in New Jersey to investigate a student press rights issue.\n“They came to campus and spent the day interviewing people, looking at records. They found that the administration was infringing on students’ – and my – rights,” Bosley said. “He was willing to fight in court, if necessary.”\nIn 1988, the Supreme Court passed a ruling in the case of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier that enabled high-school administrators to review student articles before they went to press. Dave spoke before the House of Representatives education \ncommittee and sent letters to schools in an effort to override the ruling. Adams’ campaign wasn’t successful, but his perseverance sticks in the mind of Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center Mark Goodman.\n“Dave is one of the three or four people in this country who supported student press freedom (more) than anyone else,” Goodman said.\nGoodman remembered running into an embattled northern Indiana high school journalism adviser at a conference that he and Dave attended a few months ago. The adviser, Amy Sorrell, had been suspended from Woodlan Junior-Senior High School in Fort Wayne for a student’s controversial editorial advocating tolerance of homosexuals that had been printed under her guidance. \n“Dave sat right next to her,” Goodman said. “He made her feel she was someone of great value, which is so important.”\nDave was known for his contagious excitement about journalism. Whenever he talked about it, friends and colleagues could see that it lit a fire underneath him. “Seeing the passion he brought was inspiring,” Goodman said.\nLinda Putney, a close friend of Dave’s for 30 years, said she “never knew Dave to know a student he didn’t love.”\n“His passion has always been students and their rights,” Putney said. “It wasn’t enough to give students freedom for him to do that, but the responsibility to protect their freedom and rights.”\nCraig Klugman, editor-in-chief of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, said that when the Sorrell case came out, coverage of it became widespread because of Dave’ unwavering tenacity. \nEven at the age of 59, “he still had the fire of a young activist. He was really upset that a teacher had to go through this,” Klugman said. \nVince Filak, faculty adviser of the Ball State University Daily News and executive director of the ICPA, said he and Dave attempted to get legislation passed so that the 2003 Hosty v. Carter ruling would be reversed. The case looked at whether college newspapers should be reviewed by university officials before being printed. \nFilak said Dave was valued for being the main free press advocate on the ICPA board. \n“He knew so much, and in him passing we will lose so much,” he said. \nDave was one to talk enthusiastically about First Amendment rights any chance he had, Goodman said, but he was also quick with a hug. \n“His enthusiasm was infectious,” Goodman said. “We’ve lost a legend.”