Indiana University School of Journalism

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Photo by Courtney Deckard

NABJ and SPJ students gave participants the rules at the second First Amendment Free Food Festival. By taking away rights, attendees learn more about the amendment, organizers said.

The IU chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and National Association of Black Journalists staged their second First Amendment Free Food Festival of the year Sept. 15 in Dunn Meadow as a way to enlighten students about the importance of the amendment.

About 140 people entered the closed off area, according to SPJ member MJ Slaby. SPJ and NABJ student members confiscated any items associated with free speech, monitored any expressions of opinion and broke up gatherings. In return, participating students received free food sponsored by Btownmenus.com and, in some cases, an education about what the First Amendment means.

SPJ chapters across the nation have sponsored such events over the last year. For more information about SPJ, contact MJ Slaby. For info about NABJ, contact Ashlee Green.

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