On the one hand, I'm adamantly opposed to censorship, and this could be seen as political correctness run amok. This was clearly a parody issue, and college is a time when you're supposed to be pushing the boundaries.
On the other hand, the issue apparently was pretty bad. And because the paper is operated under the direction of the university (unlike many college papers, which are independent publications) Stetson apparently had the right to shut it down.
Unfortunately, the actual paper itself does not appear to be available on the web, so it's hard to judge.
posted on April 11, 2003 11:01:46 AM new
Is Stetson a private or public university ?
Because Stetson is a private institution, it can restrict what the student newspaper publishes, said Mark Goodman, executive director of the Student Press Law Center in Arlington, Va
Because it is private, it is little different than any other newspaper shuting down or printing what they want when they want.
Censorship is unavoidable in the private sector. However government censorship or "prior restraint" is another story.
But this does bring to light something that few realize-- you do not have the same Constitutional rights at a private school that you do at a public school as applied to actions by the school.
posted on April 11, 2003 11:03:16 AM new
I think they should have protest marches. This is serious. Chain themselves to the President of the college's office, Smear red paint on the people coming and going, save a tree, whale, penguin, eat a peach and...(Only kidding)
Who really give a s***,
Freedom of speech is one thing. This has nothing to do with that freedom. It was apparently vulgar, crass and unacceptable to many.
Life has boundaries. Looks like the staff tried to see how far they could push theirs.
Oh, Oh they went a little too far.
Don't get me wrong. There's nobody that enjoys a good nonpolitical correct joke more then me. I don't care if it's racist, as long as it's funny.
I can do that with my website. Because it's mine and mine alone. The only one I have to answer to is the one above.(and my wife)
posted on April 11, 2003 11:53:23 AM newBut the students do assume responsibility for their editorial decisions."
The college just made them aware of the consequences of "free" speech.... yes they had the right to say it, but there is a responsibility along with it...
The college has a right to maintain a certain decorum as a higher learning institution... nothing would of been said or done had this been done outside of the college...
posted on April 11, 2003 08:38:22 PM new
If these same students wanted to run through the blackest part of Chicago screaming the "N word", they should be defended for their freedom of expression. But that doesn't mean I'm stopping someone who wants to exercise their freedom of expression by smacking that student upside the head for saying it!
They learned that there is consequences for thier actions. Something maybe their parents should've taught them earlier on.
posted on April 12, 2003 11:31:24 AM new
Now if the university had stopped them expresssing themselves in something published at their own expense on their own time there would be a problem. There was a court case recently where that happened to a high school student here in MI. He was expelled for the contents of his own web site maintained off school time and property - and the courts backed his right to express what he wished outside school without fear of retribution. Nothing on the site was of a nature they could challenge legally so they simply misused their executive authority.
posted on April 12, 2003 01:22:11 PM new
The MI case would be distinguished from this one because the MI case involved a public school.
A private school could expell a student for what they put on their private web site.
In this case,while the scholl could not actually stop the publishing, they could threaten to expell the students if they pubished anything the school did not approve of.
