The printer of the University’s Legacy magazine is refusing to publish the February issue due to an article about sexual fetishes that the company deemed was against its values.
Interstate Printing & Graphics, a full-service production facility based in Mobile, Ala., published the first and second issue of the magazine last year. The company’s contract, which began in August 2011, specified it would publish all of Legacy’s issues until the end of the contract in June 2012.
Legacy editor and mass communication senior Emily Slack said after sending the issue to be published, she received a call from Tracey Smith, operations manager of Interstate Printing & Graphics, saying the company refused to publish the magazine because of an article titled “Kink.”
After speaking to The Daily Reveille several times, Smith declined to comment.
Slack said the article in question profiled University students who were involved with a sexual recreation community in order to share their common sexual fantasies. She said the story contained neither explicit writing nor overly graphic images.
“Although it is taboo, LSU students are involved,” Slack said. “We represent all facets of the University’s student body.”
Slack, a former Reveille employee, said the printing company never gave any stipulation to reserving the right not to publish content due to its subject matter. The company said its Christian moral values prevented them from publishing the content, according to Slack.
“There is nothing online that states their values,” Slack said.
The contract between the University and Interstate Printing & Graphics also discloses nothing about the religious background of the company, nor its right to deny publishing of the material.
The contract states that “by signing this solicitation, the bidder certifies compliance with all general instructions to bidders, terms, conditions and specifications,” meaning the printer can’t deny to publish content without breaking the contract.
Slack said she thought the magazine’s content wouldn’t be an issue, as Legacy has covered similar taboo subjects in the past, including professors having sexual relations with students or sex-toy slumber parties.
“We do not condone the acts in the magazine. We just aim to represent the student body as a whole,” Slack said.
The article in question displayed a disclaimer reading, “Many of these acts can be dangerous and should be engaged in with extreme caution.”
Slack said she won’t let a printer determine the content of the magazine.
With hopes of the magazine still hitting newsstands Feb. 27, Slack said the staff is searching for a new bid from another printing company.
“I stand by the story,” Slack said. “Legacy decides on the content as a staff. The story was read by multiple staff members with very different backgrounds.”
Slack said it’s disappointing the company won’t print the content because it punishes the rest of the issue.
She said the University is in the legal process of breaking the contract with the printing company.
 
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Contact Lauren Duhon at [email protected]