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SALT LAKE CITY -- A prank literally spelled out by some writers at the University of Utah student newspaper has prompted administrators to put a hold on their transcripts.

Senior student editors of the Daily Utah Chronicle did that for their final edition April 28, and the nine letters on two editorial pages combined to spell out two words referring to genitalia. One word is penis; the other is a derogatory word for female genitalia.

Editor Rachel Hanson says she's concerned the administration's response could violate students' right to freedom of the press.

The paper's faculty adviser says while he doesn't approve of the prank, the administration's move could amount to censorship.

I don't agree with the behavior at all, but I support their right to be idiots. –Jim Fisher, an associate professor of communication and the paper's faculty adviser

"It was childish and stupid, but it's not a cause for institutional notice," said Jim Fisher, an associate professor of communication and the paper's faculty adviser. "It, at the very least, has a chilling effect, and at the most could be censorship. I don't agree with the behavior at all, but I support their right to be idiots."

The Chronicle has a tradition of hiding vulgar or racy phrases in the year's final edition. But in the past, the words were better hidden and in some cases have been tamer, like "drunk."

The prank has drawn attention all over the social networks and blogosphere. An associate dean has sent e-mails to these students, saying their records are on hold and they have to meet with her.

Students earlier this week got e-mails informing them of the holds on their transcripts and requesting a meeting with the associate dean of students.

The e-mail Hanson got said the students may have engaged in "intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other University activities," which could be grounds for disciplinary action.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and the Student Press Law Center wrote a letter to university officials defending the students' actions.

"While the content in question might offend members of the campus community, it is unquestionably protected expression under the First Amendment," the letter said.

The language used was offensive to many members of the university community ... men as well as women. –University Vice President for Student Affairs Barb Snyder

University Vice President for Student Affairs Barb Snyder told The Associated Press that all nine students were allowed to participate in commencement activities Friday. She said the hold on each student's file would be removed after they meet with the associate dean to discuss the matter.

"We're not in any way trying to interfere with their free speech rights," Snyder said. "The language used was offensive to many members of the university community ... men as well as women."

"We're just having a conversation about the motivation and what they learned from it, if anything," Snyder added.

Writer Michael McFall said that while he defends the use of the word penis, he thinks the group abused its freedoms by printing the other word.

"We meant it in the anatomical opposite to penis," he told The Salt Lake Tribune. "We overlooked" that the word is derogatory to women, McFall added.

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Story compiled with contributions from Andrew Adams and the Associated Press.

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