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The wait is over. Students longing to hear the voices of two controversial political commentators will have their chance tomorrow when Republican Ann Coulter and Democrat James Carville speak on campus as part of the Loyolan's fourth annual First Amendment Week.
First Amendment Week kicked off yesterday with an event in the Lair during convocation hour that featured a video of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Today at 5 p.m., the Loyolan will host an open forum in the Living Room to discuss the newspaper's strengths and weaknesses.
?"We wanted students to have the opportunity to criticize the newspaper so that we can continue to improve," said Stephen A. Murphy, the Loyolan's editor in chief. "This is everyone's newspaper, so we want to hear as much input as possible."
Journalists have long valued the First Amendment, which among other things forbids the United States government from infringing on freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
First Amendment Week was first held during the 2002-2003 school year and was not without controversy. Larry Flynt, the founder of Hustler magazine and head of Larry Flynt Publications, had accepted an invitation from the Loyolan to discuss freedom of speech. In a move that many saw as ironic, the administration barred Flynt from coming to campus, saying his message was not in line with the university's mission. The decision marked the first time Flynt had ever been denied the opportunity to speak at a university.
The main event this week will feature speeches by Coulter and Carville. It will be held tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in Burns Back Court. For more information on the two speakers, see the special First Amendment Week insert in this week's issue. |
