MIRIAM COLLEGE FOUNDATION, INC. v. COURT OF APPEALS et al.

G.R. No. 127930 15 December 2000

FACTS:
The Story

Miriam College suspended or expelled several staffers of the Chi Rho school paper and magazine.
The 1994 issue of Chi Rho had sexually explicit articles, drawings, and poems, which violated the
school rules. The staffers questioned the authority of the disciplinary board to punish them. They
argue that according to Republic Act 7079, the Department of Education Culture and Sports
(DECS) is the proper authority to handle their case.

Regional Trial Court

The Regional Trial Court dismissed the petition of the students questioning the school board’s
jurisdiction. Republic Act 7079 only provides that the DECS has jurisdiction of cases regarding
campus journalism if the cases are brought before it. But the DECS has no exclusive jurisdiction
for cases regarding Republic Act 7079. Some of the punishments were enforced; others were
stopped by a preliminary injunction.

Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the trial court. The suspension and expulsion of the
students were also voided. Thus, Miriam College filed a petition before the Supreme Court.

ISSUE:

Can schools regulate the manner by which students express themselves in school papers and
magazines?
RULING:
Yes, schools can regulate how students express themselves in school papers and magazines.

The Supreme Court quoted a Des Moines case which ruled that students have a right to express
themselves while on campus. Their freedom to do so is protected by law, even if the issue is
controversial. Thus, students can express themselves in any way, as long as they do not disrupt
classes or disturb the work of nonacademic personnel.

On the other hand, schools are granted academic freedom. They decide who to teach, who will
teach, what to teach, and how to teach. School rules and disciplinary measures are part of “how to
teach.”

In this case, Miriam College had a set of rules that the students must follow. However, the staffers
of Chi Rho violated them when the sexually explicit articles and drawings were published.
Therefore, the board of Miriam College was within their rights to discipline the students.