The student newspaper of Thiel College will publish today, but editor Nathan R. Shrader isn't so sure about its prospects after that.

Following several months of controversy and one forced shutdown, Thielensian's future could be in jeopardy, Shrader said.

After the publication of controversial stories and photographs that shed light on improper or illegal activities of students, and stories criticizing the Lutheran college, Shrader said an adviser was forced to resign, publication was briefly shut down and he was called before the college's board of trustees to defend the newspaper.

Recently, administrators have been trying to institute a policy of prior review and approval of news and editorial copy by a faculty adviser, he said.

"There has been an ongoing effort to close us down," Shrader said.

After the paper printed a photo of a female student wearing condoms on her ears while she was taking part in a school-sponsored safe sex event, Shrader said he was called to a meeting of the college's board of trustees.

"They warned me to take into consideration the ramifications controversial or negative stories had on the college's image," he said.

Dan West, a professor of communications studies, resigned as newspaper adviser after the condom picture ran, according to a Nov. 22 Thielensian article.

"The word came down that promotions/tenure would be affected by my 'bad job' as an adviser," West told the Thielensian, adding the college was not happy with the direction the newspaper was taking.

College administrators informed the paper that since they had no adviser, they could not publish. The paper was shut down for two weeks following West's resignation.

Shrader said dean of student services Roseanne Gill-Jacobson called the paper's printer and told them not to print any material students brought to them, and if they did they wouldn't be paid.

College President Lance Masters later told the paper's staff the shutdown was the result of a "miscommunication," Shrader said, and told them the administration "had no intention of shutting down the paper."

A new adviser was selected to lead the paper, tenured political science professor Dr. Robert Wells. Wells has still not signed a contract with the college. One sticking point, Wells said, was a clause that mandated he "approve" paper content. That language has since been deleted, Wells said.

Wells said the paper would continue to published while he works on the contract.

Staff writer Anthony Giaramata said he thought critical or controversial articles have irked administrators. "It seems like we're only supposed to print positive articles," he said.

"We're just trying to remain true to the liberal arts and Lutheran heritage of this college," Shrader said. "Martin Luther posted his criticisms on the door of the church. We're putting them on a shelf."

Masters was not available for comment Thursday.