Daily Illini Editor Loses Post Over Publication of Danish Cartoons

The Daily Illini’s board of directors has fired its student editor, Acton H. Gorton, for violating “Daily Illini policies about thoughtful discussion of and preparation for the publication of inflammatory material” in deciding to publish those now infamous Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Gorton and another of the paper’s editors were originally suspended for their actions in publishing the cartoons. Gorton defended his decision by saying the publication was “newsworthy” and that he asked others for advice before choosing to republish the cartoons. Gorton says he plans to sue over the firing. Read more on the suspension here and the firing here. Read Gorton’s February 9, 2006 editorial about the cartoons here.