CU Boulder Clears Banned Student Journalist of Charges

University found Ašiihkionkonci Parker not responsible for any Student Code of Conduct violations after suspending them for two weeks.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 5:39pm

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The University of Colorado Boulder has determined that student journalist Ašiihkionkonci Parker was not responsible for any alleged Student Code of Conduct violations, after the university had previously suspended Parker from campus for two weeks and charged them with four violations. Parker, a photographer and videographer for the student newspaper El Diario de la Gente, plans to continue their journalism work on campus.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about universities potentially censoring or punishing student journalists for their reporting, which could have a chilling effect on press freedom and the ability of student media to hold institutions accountable. It also raises questions about the transparency and fairness of university conduct policies.

The details

In October 2025, CU Boulder charged Parker with four alleged Student Code of Conduct violations and suspended them from campus for two weeks, the day after Parker covered a Students for Justice in Palestine protest. After an investigation that lasted over two months, the university determined Parker was not responsible for any violations. Two other student journalists were also reportedly banned from campus after covering the same event, but were later cleared as well.

  • On October 17, 2025, Parker received a notice of suspension and code of conduct charges from CU Boulder.
  • On October 31, 2025, Parker was allowed back on campus only to attend classes.
  • On November 7, 2025, all suspension measures against Parker were lifted and they were permitted back on campus in full.
  • On January 22, 2026, CU Boulder notified Parker and the two other student journalists that they were found not guilty of any charges.

The players

Ašiihkionkonci Parker

A student journalist at the University of Colorado Boulder who works as a photographer and videographer for the student newspaper El Diario de la Gente.

Nicole Cousins

A spokesperson for the University of Colorado Boulder.

Marie McMullan

The Student Press Counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), an organization that has been communicating with CU Boulder about Parker's case.

Greta Kerkhoff

The editor-in-chief of the CU Independent, a student news organization at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Avery Clifton

The assistant news editor of the CU Independent.

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What they’re saying

“I'm pretty upset, obviously, because CU loves to champion itself and present itself as this bastion of free speech where it allows all kinds of dialogue and discussion to happen. But it's censoring and blocking its own journalists who go to their school for journalism, for reporting events that they don't want people to see. It's frustrating.”

— Ašiihkionkonci Parker

“It was important (for us to come) because this was a case in which a student journalist was suspended for two weeks for filming inside the UMC, for filming a protest that occurred there — a newsworthy event on campus. We want to make sure that every student and every student journalist on this campus is able to tell the stories that matter to this community without facing investigations or punishment.”

— Marie McMullan, Student Press Counsel, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)

“Rules like that mean you can't be very spontaneous and you can't really respond to things in the moment as they're happening.”

— Nicholas Merl, Student journalist, Radio 1190

What’s next

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is calling on CU Boulder to revise its UMC Film and Photo Policy to better protect student journalists' rights on campus.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of universities upholding press freedoms and avoiding actions that could have a chilling effect on student journalism, which plays a crucial role in campus discourse and accountability.