Posted on 10/19/2006 10:05:37 AM PDT by Froufrou
Officials at Marquette University have ordered a Ph.D. student to remove a quotation critical of the federal government from his office door, because the hallway the door faces is not a "free speech zone."
In August, Stuart Distler, a doctoral student teacher, posted a quotation from humor columnist Dave Barry on his office door. "As Americans, we must always remember that we all have a common enemy, an enemy that is dangerous, powerful and relentless," the sign stated. "I refer, of course, to the federal government."
On Sept. 5, Philosophy Department Chairman James South informed Distler via email that the sign had been taken down because it was "patently offensive."
"While I'm a strong supporter of academic freedom," South wrote, "I'm afraid that hallways and office doors are not 'free-speech zones.' If material is patently offensive and has no obvious academic import or university sanction, I have little choice but to take note."
When asked to comment on academic freedom at the university, South told Cybercast News Service he had "no interest in pursuing that conversation, but I do appreciate your interest."
South directed further questions to university spokeswoman Mary Pat Pfeil, who did not respond to requests for comment via telephone and email Wednesday.
According to the university policy South quoted in his email to Distler, student teachers are allowed to participate in free speech "when he/she speaks or writes as a citizen," but when speaking or writing as a teacher, the university "imposes special obligations."
While student teachers are "entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his/her subject," they are required to "exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others and should make every effort to indicate that he/she is not an institutional spokesperson."
"This incident at Marquette is part of a truly disturbing trend," Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), said in a release.
"Administrators seem willing to ban speech across the board and to designate increasingly tiny 'free speech zones' rather than risk any student or faculty member being offended," Lukianoff said.
Referring to the quotation as a "harmless joke," Lukianoff said the controversy at Marquette illustrates "how even innocuous expression is under ongoing assault at our colleges and universities."
Well, the Federal government IS common, dangerous, powerful and relentless. And in fact, it is only slightly less so under Republican administrations than it is under Dem'crat regimes. One of the reasons the relative threat from the Feds decreases so little is because of the entrenched bureaucracy and the appointed judiciary.
"Just what the world needs, another philosophy doctoral student. They keep churning out thousands of them but there are very few jobs. Poor guy, he'll never get a job now."
You know the last Philosophy doctor I spoke to said the same thing. I said "Just shut up and give me my fries".
That's the best answer yet! Fair is fair.
"Free speech zone"? What, do they put up signs or something?
How do you get a hallway re-zoned? Is there a free speech planning commission in charge of that?
When was America divided into "free speech" and "no free speech" zones? This, indeed, is frightening. I've long believed the major battles for freedom in America will be fought on its college campuses. At the moment we're losing.
Soon, we'll have Speech-free zones.
They're banning humor to raise morale again, I see...
But, they own the soapbox.
You know the last Philosophy doctor I spoke to said the same thing. I said "Just shut up and give me my fries".
______________________________________________________
ROFLMAO
No humor allowed at Marquette, apparently.
...but if they were threatened with the loss of all federal money for their censorship, they'd reverse course immediately. How ironic would that be?
That it didn't apply to them...and it doesn't. The 1st amendment doesn't guarentee free speech, it protects us against governments who would interfere with free speech. The university is not a government and anyone who disagrees with their regulations is free to leave.
The Constitution simply prohibits Congress from limiting "free speech". It does not prohibit private persons, companies, organizations, or in this case private schools and universities from doing so. If I own the land or building, I make the rules. If you say or post something I don't like, you will be escorted off the property and barred from returning, by court order and police presence, or self armed guards, if necessary. "Freedom of speech" is so misunderstood in this country, even by those who claim to be it's greatest supporters...........
hear ! hear! see #37!.....
A college dorm is but a scaled-down version of life under a totalitarian regime...
(And despite this, I still love my school!)
We need more fact before we pass judgement. Is Marquette a private university? Congress might constitutionally be barred from "making a law", but Marquette might not be.
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