Posted on 09/19/2013 12:52:17 PM PDT by lowbridge
In a stunning illustration of the attitude taken towards free speech by too many colleges across the United States, Modesto Junior College in California told a student that he could not pass out copies of the United States Constitution outside the student center on September 17, 2013—Constitution Day. Captured on video, college police and administrators demanded that Robert Van Tuinen stop passing out Constitution pamphlets and told him that he would only be allowed to pass them out in the college’s tiny free speech zone, and only after scheduling it several days or weeks ahead of time. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has written to Modesto, demanding that the college rescind this policy immediately.
“The video of Modesto Junior College police and administrators stubbornly denying a public college student’s right to freely pass out pamphlets to fellow students—copies of the Constitution, no less!—should send a chill down the spine of every American,” said FIRE Senior Vice President Robert Shibley. “Worse, FIRE’s research shows that Modesto Junior College is hardly alone in its fear of free speech. In fact, one in six of America’s 400 largest and most prestigious colleges have ‘free speech zones’ limiting where speech can take place. This video brings to life the deeply depressing reality of the climate for free speech on campus.”
Van Tuinen began his efforts to pass out the U.S. Constitution to fellow students outside the student center. He reports that after less than 10 minutes, a campus police officer arrived and informed him that any time anything was being passed out on campus it had to be registered with the Student Development office. After unsuccessfully attempting to convince the officer that this would impair his freedom of speech, Van Tuinen went into the student center at the officer’s request.
(Excerpt) Read more at thefire.org ...
It's called "putting one's money where one's mouth is." If you have no money then write a letter even to a local editor publicizing the issue.
Pass out jihadi indoctrination books and you’re OK.
They're the Marxists who are running the colleges of today. When they stormed the administrative offices back then it wasn't to support the U.S. Constitution.
True, but today everyone’s compliant, and they make yesterday’s defiant look good in comparison.
An unamerican campus. Be proud.
If only he was passing out direction to the nearest abortion facility. Not only would he be applauded but the college would send staff to assist in the copying and handing out.
I thought all the Junior Colleges had renamed themselves Community College.
Donating is fine, but the powers at MJC need to hear the outrage. We, as Conservatives, must stop being the armchair commandos. We shouldn’t expect others to do our work. It’s not a “either” situation. Make a call, or write a letter, and donate. Writing to the local editor is fine, but letters should also go to administration, including the two listed in the article.
BackToTheTop
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EosaP99J3Z8
“In my day a college kid would have cussed the officer out, continued distributing, and gotten arrested. Ka-ching!”
Maybe because a number of security officers are former military vets. Some still young enough themselves to be hanging with the rest of the college aged students.
All for handing out copies of the Constitution however the argument should not be with the security officer.
Security officers cannot change a campus policy that comes from the administration, governing board and along with student input.
Nobody forced them to be security officers enforcing evil rules. Just doing their job? It’s a dirty job. Would you do it? I would not.
What if the college had a rule about pulling someone out of a ditch on Sunday?
What if conservatives had to wear a yellow star and were only allowed in the tiny “free speech zone” if they paid for it?
Would you enforce that?
I have no empathy for enforcers of injustice. Their honor is for hire. They are contemptible.
Thanks lowbridge.
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