The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia is getting involved in a dispute involving reporters at James Madison University's student newspaper.

A reporter and the paper's editor-in-chief face judicial charges of trespassing, among others. They say they were simply trying to report a story.

This issue started when the reporter tried to do a story about an alleged crime at a campus residence hall.

The writers for "The Breeze" say they were accompanied as guests inside the residence hall. They wanted to interview people and get their reactions to the alleged crime.

They say a housing official asked them to leave.

Tim Chapman, the paper's editor-in-chief, says he tried to explain the university's housing policy regarding guests to the housing officials.

Chapman says the housing officials told them again to leave, so they did.

The story ran.

A few days later, they were both charged by the university's judicial affairs office.

Executive Director of the ACLU of Virginia, Kent Willis, says he's sending a letter to the university outlining the organization's concerns.

"We should all always be concerned about freedom of the press. One of the great balances in our whole governing process is the fact that press, on behalf of the public, is out there asking questions," says Willis.

The students facing charges await judicial hearings.

A university spokesperson told WHSV this week that JMU has a policy of not commenting on student judicial matters.