Ok, so Rowan and Co. had the right to publish the cartoon. Indefensibly poor taste? Yes. Within his legal right? Yes. Now, does the right to free speech mean the platform to it? Debatable. Can he continue to operate from this platform? Remains to be seen, but only the students can oust him. So first things first: demand that the rules for electing the editor are transparent. If your funds pay for this paper, demand a voice in choosing the editor.
Speaking of funds: here's the question that goes far beyond the right to publish/free speech. Can a university, such as the state-operated and funded CCSU, force you to pay student fees to fund a paper that harasses, demeans, and threatens you? Are you not being forced to pay for your own harassment? Does that not contribute to a hostile workplace environment? Isn't a learning environment also a workplace? If we move the issue away from free speech (and this may or may not be hate speech and/or pornography, given that it went after a protected group and encouraged a criminal act of sexual assault), the real issue is about the money.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I support what you are doing. Please keep up the fight, organize students to take back what is yours - your school newspaper. UPSET THE SETUP!
When Imus made his hateful and wrong statements calling Rutger's University female basketball players 'nappy headed hos' he lost his job. Of course he is free to use whatever words he wants but his employer is free to fire him for his tasteless and hurtful behavior. He did manage to apologize even though he lost his job. Has this Rowan character issued an apology yet?
The protest should focus on having Rowan removed as editor of the paper due to his poor judgement.
Post a Comment