An Oklahoma Free Speech Committee review concluded it could not determine whether the University of Central Oklahoma’s actions resulted in a free speech violation.
The Independent View was provided with a report detailing the group’s analysis of UCO’s decision to end The Vista’s print edition. The report is dated Feb. 10, 2026.
According to the report, multiple complaints were filed Oct. 28 by UCO alumni and concerned local journalists, one of whom identified himself to The Independent View as Jon Womasteck, alleging the university’s print ban was intended to suppress First Amendment rights.
Based on both the complaint and UCO’s response, the task force concluded the allegations carry material weight and could indicate troubling behavior if the actions described were accurate, but said it could not determine whether the university acted in a retaliatory or suppressive manner.
The report states that the Complaints Task Force met with UCO administrators on Dec. 5, 2025, where the university “vehemently denied” that ending print was connected to critical coverage of UCO or President Todd Lamb.
The committee said UCO justified its decision using pedagogical, budgetary and staffing reasons, while also noting the rationale expressed by the university appeared ideological in nature.
Despite previous claims of an efficiency mandate and budgetary concerns being the impetus for the cancellation of the print publication of The Vista, UCO pivoted its stance when it confirmed to the committee it declined donated funds because such funding would be “unethical,” as it would move the department in a direction counter to its stated strategy of prioritizing digital publication. The university cited low pickup rates for print issues and potential staffing costs as additional reasons. The pickup rate UCO references has been disputed by former Vista editor Jake Ramsey, who tracked pickup rates for a longer period of time and found it to be higher than the pickup rate number the university has referenced. Ramsey found that there was a 30 to 35% pickup rate, as noted in the minutes of multiple Student Media Advisory Board meetings. The 12% pickup rate UCO has noted has not been substantiated in any official capacity.
The report also references a comment attributed to Lamb directed towards Ramsey involving reporting on “broken eggs,” rather than a “perfectly good omelette,” which the president disputes. Instead, Lamb claims his comments were meant to be motivational in nature and an “attempt to mentor the student toward a more optimistic view of the world,” rather than attempting to exert editorial control of the story he was working on.
The committee’s analysis noted additional context presented by UCO, including a fact check article published by The Vista. That article was published roughly one month after state regents met with Lamb regarding the issue. The fact check was written by the same Vista editors who accused The Independent View of being a misogynistic publication in a joint editorial published on Dec. 12.
“The fact check published by The Vista last month, and the previous editorial, were both misguided attempts by the current Vista editors to discredit The Independent View,” Ramsey said. “In my opinion, there are many things in those two articles that should be reviewed, because there are a lot of inaccuracies.”
The committee ultimately recommended that UCO use the situation as an opportunity to “further build goodwill” with its student body and improve internal and external communications.
Actions previously discussed during the controversy include allowing donated funds to support a student print publication, permitting The Independent View to operate as a recognized campus publication and issuing clearer public statements addressing transparency and decision-making surrounding the print ban. The report does not indicate whether UCO plans to pursue any of those measures.
Jake Ramsey, now interim chair of The Independent View’s advisory board, described the report as “neither a win nor a loss.”
Ramsey said that if UCO’s decision was not rooted in censorship, future students should be allowed to revisit the print ban.
“If The Vista turns around and wants to print again one day, and there’s the money in the budget to do so, they’re allowed to lift this arbitrary ban on print and leave it up to the actual decision of the students, as opposed to telling them what they can and can’t do,” Ramsey said.
Adrienne Nobles, a spokesperson for UCO, said in a statement that “the report confirms the university’s unwavering commitment to free speech and expression and supports our administrators and faculty in making relevant adjustments to academic programs that prepare students for success in the workforce.”
The Independent View has previously reported on The Vista’s print ban. No member of The Independent View was contacted by the committee during its review, and according to reporting by Oklahoma Voice, individuals who filed complaints were also not contacted.
