The JagWire student newspaper, which hit the campus Friday, contained seven stories and columns about oral sex, including a report that said 37 percent of 600 students surveyed had engaged in oral sex. The package also contained personal quotes from five students and whether they had engaged in “oral sex and sex.”

“I think the kids were trying to do the right thing,” said Brian Lowney, principal of the 1,400-plus-student school in the Puyallup District. “I think they’re just floored by the response,” he said, which included criticism from other students, teachers and staff members.

Lowney said the four pages of coverage in the JagWire on the topic mostly was balanced. However, Lowney said, he was disappointed at one part because it could place some students at risk of ridicule or otherwise put them in harm’s way. The specific part included highlighted personal testimony in the form of five quotations from students, who were identified by name.

The mother and the father of one student expressed concerns about how the school managed the newspaper’s effort and about their child being quoted in one of the stories.

Principals in the Puyallup School District don’t review what’s coming out in high school newspapers before publication as a matter of policy, said district spokeswoman Karen Hansen.

When contacted Saturday evening, she said district officials had heard about the articles but hadn’t seen them. She said the district wouldn’t comment further until officials read the articles.

Lowney said he supported the policy of no prior review of newspaper coverage by the principals.

In the coming week, he will talk with the students and their adviser about developing the filters they need to do this kind of coverage of sensitive topics.

Gerry LeConte, a high school senior and one of the students on the five-member JagWire editorial board, said the student journalists would talk to the principal, the adviser, and the 34-member student staff Monday. He wrote an opinion column that was part of the four pages of coverage.

“It was a big deal at school,” he said. “The testimonials made it controversial.

“One thing I can say is that nothing in the paper was done with malicious intent,” he said. “Anonymity was discussed, and the first thing we thought to do was to give them the choice.”

He said people who read the entire coverage “can see we did a balanced job.”

Coverage included reporting the results of a survey of 600 students at the high school. More than a third of those surveyed said they had participated in oral sex, the JagWire reported.

One article looked at diseases that can be transmitted by oral sex.

Kevin Smyth is the American Studies teacher who advises the student journalists on the JagWire and reviews content prior to publication.

He said student journalists wanted to tackle the topic because “many students at Emerald Ridge, and nationally, too, separate oral sex from sex. They see it differently.”

The paper has addressed other tough subjects, including the use of tobacco on campus and the impact of divorce on students, he said.

The newspaper quoted only students who gave their permission, Smyth said. Reporters decided to quote only 18-year-olds and other adults for the articles. He said the school is trying to determine if one of the students quoted was under 18.

Fern Valentine, who advised Auburn High School’s student newspaper for 19 years and is now the freedom of expression chairwoman for the Washington Journalism Education Association, commended the Emerald Ridge High students for taking on a subject of interest on campus.

She said many young adults don’t consider oral sex as sex and don’t realize they can still get sexually transmitted diseases.

“Kids who are free to explore tough subjects learn more,” she said.

Rob Tucker: 253-597-8374

Staff writer Scott Fontaine contributed to this report.