Va. university charges 2 students for reporting

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - Two university journalists face trespassing and disorderly conduct charges after entering a dorm to interview students.

The Virginia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists on Tuesday called on James Madison University to drop charges against 21-year-old Tim Chapman and 19-year-old Katie Hibson. It says officials acted "beyond reason."

Hibson is a reporter for The Breeze, the twice-weekly campus newspaper, and Chapman is editor in chief.

The university's Office of Judicial Affairs issued the charges after a resident adviser and the dorm director told students to leave as they interviewed residents about a "Peeping Tom" incident.

University spokesman Don Egle says the students were free to interview people outside. He says access to dorms is restricted for safety.