well the kid must have been a bush supporter attacking him unfairly!
Posted on 09/23/2007 6:34:09 AM PDT by Stop Liberalism
A four word editorial with a four letter word in it is sparking a spirited discussion on free speech at Colorado State University.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian published an editorial on page 4 of the paper Friday which read "Taser this ... F*** Bush."
The expletive was spelled out.
The last two words were in bold type, larger than most headlines. A caption below said, "this column represents the views of the Collegian's Editorial Board."
"I think they went over the line a little bit, but it's free speech and they're allowed to write what they want," one student told 7NEWS.
The editorial comes fresh on the heels of freedom of speech issues that arose from the Tasering of a Florida student at a Sen. John Kerry speech.
Collegian Editor David McSwane said a group of seven student editors discussed the statement for several hours before agreeing to publish it.
"We felt it illustrated our point about freedom of speech," McSwane told 7NEWS. "I think we could write 250 words and ramble on and I don't think anyone would pay attention."
In a letter to the University Community and Collegian readers, McSwane wrote, "While the editorial board feels strongly with regard to First Amendment issues, we have found the unintended consequences of such a bold statement to be extremely disheartening."
McSwane told 7NEWS that ads from the CSU Bookstore were pulled from the paper in response to the editorial. Bookstore managers declined to comment.
The Associated Press Saturday reported the student newspaper has lost $30,000 in advertising and had to cut pay and other budgets by 10 percent because of fallout.
CSU released a statement Friday that said in part, "While we understand that the editorial in today's Rocky Mountain Collegian is upsetting and offensive to many people, CSU is prohibited by law from censoring or regulating the content of its student media publications."
The Board of Student Communications has the authority to hear any and all grievances and complaints related to student media operations. The BSC can also remove student managers, like McSwane, if it deems necessary.
A special meeting of the BSC is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. to hear comments regarding the editorial.
McSwane said he knows his job is on the line.
"I plan to be honest," he said. "Our intentions weren't 'Hey, let's upset the community.' It was, 'Let's get college students to talk about freedom of speech.'"
Oh, come on. He was just expressing himself, like it says in the constitution. Free speech!
Seriously, "liberal education" doesn't "go wrong." It starts out that way and goes "more wrong."
Funny thing is it happened while a lib was taking Q&A. It happened on a college campus, but yet the implication is that it was Bush’s fault. UNBELIEVABLE THE FANTASY LAND THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN.
No one has the freedom to disrupt
Excellent point, I stand corrected.
Yes,
freedom of speech, and freedom to receive the consequences of said speech.
they aren’t articulate enough to express their opposition to Bush based on the issues, so they resort to vulgarity.
I thought kids went to college so they could learn how to express opinions without vulgarity.
He was not only an embarrassment to himself but to his mother and father as well.....but then again, I don't think libs are prone to embarrassment for their actions.
Free speech is about public speaking. I guess you mean freedom of the press, in this instance. Freedom of the press belongs to the guy who owns the printing press, or transmitter, that is, in this case, to the University. The editor is an employee, or an agent of the publisher.
“I don’t think libs are prone to embarrassment for their actions.”
Fun-da-mental.
A complete and total lack of shame is THE foundation of social Liberalism, IMO.
These people don't have a responsible, accountable bone in their bodies to care about the consequences. These ignorant, arrogant secularist only want a society where there are no standards or any accountability. The have no decorum nor desire any propriety. Their thought process is "evil" pure and simple and they're too wilfully stupid to recognize it.
They want your feedback!
To: University Community and Collegian readers
From: J. David McSwane, Editor in Chief
Re: Collegian editorial
On Friday, September 21, the The Rocky Mountain Collegian editorial board printed a statement bashing President Bush in its Opinion section in an effort to highlight the importance of free speech on a college campus. In doing so, the editorial board and I realized the statement was controversial and unpopular among some students and community members.
This letter should serve as an explanation to readers who were offended and upset by the editorial statement. While the editorial board feels strongly with regard to first amendment issues, we have found the unintended consequences of such a bold statement to be extremely disheartening.
As a student-run publication with a proud 116-year tradition of serving Colorado State University Students and the surrounding communities, it is our responsibility to uphold the standards set by my predecessors. We intend to continue this tradition.
As local and national media will inevitably jump on this controversy, I strongly urge the university community to try and understand that the intentions of the students on staff, including me, were not to cause harm, but rather to reinforce the importance of free speech at our great institution. My staff and I are extremely proud to be CSU students and members of this amazing community, and it is my sincere hope that our readers understand our intentions were not malicious.
The First Amendment is at the very core of what we do as a newspaper. We as journalists wish to celebrate it, utilize it and, sometimes, defend it. The Collegian editorial board, a group of seven student editors charged with determining a staff editorial for each issue, voted to run the editorial statement. This vote was a split vote, but the board as a whole as agreed to stand behind this decision and to continue the Collegian tradition.
Finally, we are available to any students or community members who wish to voice their complaints, feedback or opinions regarding this issue. Please don’t hesitate to send your letters to letters@collegian.com or by submitting them online at www.collegian.com.
Sincerely,
J. David McSwane
Editor in Chief
Welcome to the real world, kids. The reverse side of the free-speech coin is living with the consequences of your speech. The Constitution says only that THE GOVERNMENT will make no laws abridging free speech, it doesn't say that the citizens have to put up with your nonsense and act as if you haven't said anything at all.
(Know you cannot shout 'fire'; but surely hate speech endangers one; as much as a riot in a crowed room.)
Education today does not even try to be the 'light' it should be; rather; it is abysmally and Liberally, ignorant and dark.
Too many 'lights out' across our Country; where authentic education, should be turning them on.
It is a failure of our egalitarian society to expect high standards from children, the corrupt, or those degenerate in their dotage.
But while we are ever hopeful that they will “straighten up and fly right”, all too often, children behave like children, the corrupt remain corrupt, and the degenerate elderly behave atrociously.
In this case, just because he is performing the job of an editor, it is obvious that without adult supervision, this adolescent has abused the privilege afforded him. What should become a permanent part of his record is that he was given responsibility prematurely, and did not properly use it. In turn, this cannot speak to his eventual behavior as a responsible adult, just that he is not a responsible adult yet.
This is the same reasoning that would legitimately result in refusing either of the Clintons authority or responsibility. Not because they are immature, but because they are corrupt. Despite their entreaties, they are not unlike convicted felons, who can never again be given authority or responsibility.
Unlike children, who can be tested to determine their maturity, the Clintons have demonstrated themselves socially defective or even antisocial. But our society should no more romanticize their activities, nor give them any more chances, than it would to John Gotti.
Lets see how “free” free speech is at CU if the words
FU@K MUHAMMAD
I am sure the President of CU would THEN step in.
Free Speech.
Snicker.
Not in school!!
He shouldn’t be fired because he used a vulgar word in an editorial. The entire editorial board should be fired for being hopelessly stupid.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.