Tufts case called hit to speech

Washington Times ^ | May 14 2007 | Robert Stacy McCain

[Winged Hussar]

A campus magazine at Tufts University has been found guilty of "harassment" by a disciplinary board, a decision that could establish "a terrifying precedent," according to an academic-freedom group.

The Primary Source, a conservative monthly published by Tufts students, commemorated "Islamic Awareness Week" last month on the Medford, Mass., campus with a full-page "supplement" headlined "Islam -- Arabic Translation: Submission," that cited facts about Muslim history.

That unsigned article, along with a satirical "Christmas carol" in the magazine's December issue mocking the university's affirmative-action program, was cited as a violation of Tufts's "nondiscrimination policy."

"From now on, all material published in the Primary Source (whether characterized as satirical or otherwise) must be attributed to named author(s) or contributor(s)," the university's Committee on Student Life ruled, recommending "that student governance consider the behavior of student groups in future decisions concerning recognition and funding."

[Winged Hussar]

Sent to Tufts Committee on Student Life, President Bacow, and The Primary Source

(http://husaria.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/open-letter-to-tufts-university/ for the entire letter)

The following is being posted publicly in several blogs. Although I never see a need to post behind someone's back what I will not say to their face, http://www.thefire.org/pdfs/5e4f4b4bdadd652d41a425c952c43e49.pdf does not follow its own recommendation,

"From now on, all material published in The Primary Source (whether characterized as satirical or otherwise) must be attributed to named author(s) or contributor(s)," noting that the seven members of the committee were apparently unwilling to put their names on this document. (I admit that I would not want my name on this document either.) Accordingly, I have simply picked a couple of faculty members from http://ase.tufts.edu/faculty-committees/ase/student.htm, and I am asking them to forward this to the seven committee members who were responsible for the decision.

To: The Primary Source cc: Tufts University Committee on Student Life, and posted to the Internet

Regarding: TUFTS UNIVERSITY OUTCOME OF THE COMMITTEE ON STUDENT LIFE’S HEARING OF COMPLAINTS BROUGHT BY DAVID DENNIS AND THE MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION AGAINST THE PRIMARY SOURCE APRIL 30, 2007 Sophia Gordon Hall, 6:30pm-midnight

....The second [complaint], filed by the Muslim Student Association (“MSA”), represented by Shirwac Mohamed and Nayema Khan, charged The Primary Source with harassment and creating a hostile environment on campus through the publication of “Islam-Arabic Translation: Submission,” a commentary published in its April 11, 2007 edition that imitated the format of the MSA’s advertisement for events during Islamic Awareness Week.

...In the case of the Muslim Student Association (“MSA”) v. The Primary Source, by a vote of 7 to 0, we find that the MSA proved, by a preponderance of the evidence, that The Primary Source harassed Muslim students at Tufts, and created a hostile environment for them by publishing “Islam-Arabic Translation: Submission.” The Committee found that the MSA established that the commentary at issue targeted members of the Tufts Muslim community for harassment and embarrassment, and that Muslim students felt psychologically intimidated by the piece.

===================

There is an outstanding scene in the movie With Fire and Sword in which the Polish voyevode (governor) Jarema Wisniowiecki is handed a message from the Cossack chief Bogdan Chmielnicki, with whom he is at war. Wisniowiecki tears it in half without even reading it, and throws the pieces to the floor. This is what we think should be done with "Tufts University: Outcome Of The Committee On Student Life’s Hearing Of Complaints Brought By David Dennis And The Muslim Student Association Against The Primary Source."

...As for the Committee on Student Life, we recommend that its members take a 5-minute "sensitivity training" course by viewing the following video: http://www.fdnylodd.com/BloodofHeroes.html

[End of open letter]

[LtKerst]

The Muslim student group are a bunch of whining Bitches.
They want Us to give them the Rights of a free prople that they want to destroy?

The answer is simple....No.

[doug from upland]

It goes way beyond just this incident and the Muslim group. Across the nation, the left wants to control all speech. That is why they are going after talk show hosts and Internet sites.

[billybudd]

Typical liberal thought control.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Tufts.....The Medford Mass. Mob : )

[sourcery]

Truth has always been an absolute defense against a charge of slander or libel. A charge of harrassment should be no different. If the truth can be judged as harrassment, then so can any criminal prosecution, for any crime whatsoever, regardless of how guilty the accused or how just the law.

To paraphrase Gimli the Dwarf, "the words of these professors stand on their heads." Such a place is where one goes to get an indoctrination, not an education. Parents should take note.

[Winged Hussar]

“If the truth can be judged as harrassment, then so can any criminal prosecution, for any crime whatsoever, regardless of how guilty the accused or how just the law.”

The “flying imams” are in fact trying to sue passengers for reporting their suspicious activities to authorities. Among these were chanting to Allah, arranging themselves on the airplane like the 9/11 hijackers, and asking for metal seat belt extenders they didn’t need.

[Tzimisce]

“non discrimination” against whom? Obviously the policy doesn’t apply to people who disagree....

[MarkT]

The children at Tufts that condemned an unsigned article might do a little reading on our forefahers - you know, those dead white men that risked everything to found this country. Ben Franklin, among others, was well known for his unsigned pamphlets and signed pamphlets (with different names) in order to promote disscussion on issues of the day. Study, children, it is a useful exercise.