“Today the U.S. Supreme Court considers its first major dispute on student free-speech rights in nearly 20 years, a case about the power of school authorities to censor what they viewed as a pro-drug message at a school-sponsored event. At issue is whether a high school principal in Juneau, Alaska, violated a student’s free-speech rights by suspending him for unfurling a banner that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.” Student Joseph Frederick says the banner’s language was designed to be meaningless and funny in an effort to get on television as the Winter Olympic torch relay passed by the school in January 2002. But school officials say the phrase “bong hits” referred to smoking marijuana. Principal Deborah Morse suspended Frederick for 10 days because she said the banner advocated or promoted illegal drug use in violation of school policy.”

— Reuters

Update: (5:53 p.m. Central) Supreme struggles with case. I’m gonna leave the masthead up for another day. I kinda like it.