Huntington News Editor to Testify at Boston City Council Hearing on Northeastern Transparency

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Emily Spatz, the editor-in-chief of The Huntington News, the student newspaper at Northeastern University, will be a panelist at a Boston City Council hearing on Monday to discuss the university's alleged lack of administrative transparency. Spatz plans to share examples of The News' struggles in getting information and interviews from Northeastern's administration, including President Joseph E. Aoun, which has hindered the newspaper's ability to effectively report on the university.

Why it matters

The hearing is examining issues related to administrative transparency, student representation, and student rights at Northeastern. Spatz's testimony aims to shed light on how the university's alleged lack of transparency has impacted the student newspaper's ability to fulfill its mission of informing the campus community.

The details

Spatz says The News has made 11 written requests to interview President Aoun over the past three years, but has not been granted an interview. The newspaper also frequently contacts the university's media relations team for information, but often receives unanswered emails or statements that do not directly address their questions. This lack of communication has limited what The News can publish, such as an article about the demolition and construction at the White Hall site, where the university was unable to provide details on the timeline.

• The Boston City Council hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2026.
• It has been three years since The Huntington News last interviewed Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Boston City Council hearing on Northeastern University's transparency is scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2026, where Emily Spatz of The Huntington News will testify about the newspaper's difficulties in obtaining information from the university administration.