In 2004 and early 2005 the "Tattler" published a number of controversial articles, most notably several articles strongly critical of the Ithaca High School administration and a restaurant review that some considered racist. In response, in January 2005 the Ithaca City School District issued a set of guidelines, declaring the "Tattler" a school-sponsored publication and giving the faculty advisor considerably greater power to edit or remove objectionable material. The "Tattler" student editors believed that these guidelines violated First Amendment rights, and were angered that they had transferred power from what had been a primarily student-run organization to the school administration.