Fallout follows expletive in CSU's Collegian editorial

09/21/07 | TREVOR HUGHES /KEVIN DARST

[TornadoAlley3]

Rules: link only

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/CSUZONE01/709220352/1002

[TornadoAlley3]

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/CSUZONE01/709220352/1002

[Mr Ramsbotham]

In a letter posted on the Collegian's Web site Friday afternoon, Editor-in-Chief J. David McSwane said the editorial was meant to highlight the importance of free speech.

Without the F word, no speech can be truly free.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Comments: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:23 am
I’m not happy about a number of Hillary’s health care proposals.
Can I use the F word in my editorial?
Will they publish it, or is that word only reserved for editorials that they agree with.

I like this comment! Free speech for me but not for thee!

[syriacus]

This brings to mind another college newspaper prank.

Southern Illinois University admits that girl's letters to Iraq were a hoax.

The Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University's student-run newspaper, today will admit to its readers that the saga -- of a little girl's* published letters to her father serving in Iraq -- was apparently an elaborate hoax perpetrated by a woman who claimed to be the girl's aunt.

In fact, the newspaper will report today, the man identified as the girl's father was never in Iraq, and it was the woman who apparently wrote the letters and regular columns that were published under the little girl's name -- and even impersonated the girl in telephone interviews.

*Kodee Kennings

[IronJack]

"the intentions ... were ... to reinforce the importance of free speech at our great institution,"

"... which is why we remained silent when Bill Clinton became the first president since Andrew Johnson to be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. Our service to 'free speech' tends to be ominously selective, consistently favoring the left wing, thereby making it less free speech than propaganda masquerading as objectivity."

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Anyway, who censored them? There was no prior restraint. Their panties are all in a bunch because they thought the advertisers would be forced by the Constitution to continue to advertise in their rag sheet, thus affirming their free speech rights ... the dingelheimers.

[Don Carlos]

Free speech doesn’t mean freedom from backlash. Two way street, dude!

[labette]

Looks like someone wanted to draw attention and be somebody.

I hope the school is proud of their product.

[TornadoAlley3]

http://www.collegian.com/news/2007/09/21/News/Taser.This-2984348.shtml

The editorial.

[DManA]

Editor-in-Chief J. David McSwane said the editorial was meant to highlight the importance of free speech.

Now he knows it also has a cost.

[RXSalesman]

Expect to see all salaries reinstated within the next week as MoveOn.org becomes the leading advertiser for the newspaper....

[TornadoAlley3]

My first thought too. :)

[JimRed]

Gee, actions have CONSEQUENCES? Who’da thunk it?

[pnh102]

This sounds like a manufactured controversy. If anything, the newspaper should be given credit for being open and honest about its opinions and biases. Other newspapers could learn a thing or three from the blunt sincerity displayed by this paper.

[mountainlyons]

Along with freedom comes responsibility. Liberals do not wish to participate in the Responsibility part. I an not proud to have graduated from Colorado State University. Political opinions are not shared by all. I like President Bush more than CSU therefore I will take some action.

[crazyhorse691]

The editorial is all of 11 words long...nothing but an anti establishment childish outburst that totally fails to explain the logical pinnings for their position. And I severely doubt that the editorial board would be receptive to publishing a counter argument that tells the board to F*** themselves.

[Lucky Dog]

The Friday editorial read in large type "Taser this... F-- BUSH," along with a sentence in regular type saying "This column represents the views of the Collegian's editorial board."

A few questions come immediately to mind:

What do Bush and taser have in common?

It seems that the most recent taser incident in the news involving a political figure was in a John F. Kerry presentation. I do not recall any incidents where Bush and a taser were even mentioned in the same news story.

Are these student reporters and editors really that ill-informed? Alternatively, if it is not a question of ignorance, is their capacity for logic that impaired?

While the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and the press among other things, that freedom is from government interference, not freedom from the civil legal or societal consequences of such freedom of speech or the press. These vulgar, ignorant excuses for journalism students should be summarily dismissed from their positions and required to take weekly vocabulary tests for the remainder of their collegiate sojourn.

[Wil H]

Editor-in-Chief J. David McSwane said the editorial was meant to highlight the importance of free speech.

Well done! They demonstrated free speech beautifully..

McSwane and his editorial board chose to say "F--- Bush"

And the People responded with "F-- You" except, the people used their check books to make their comment.

Meanwhile the Government stayed completely out of it as required by the Constitution.

Perhaps Mr McSwane now understands how the Constitution works and what the consequences of having freedoms can be if you don't use them wisely.

[Red_Devil 232]

Did advertisers pull their ads and support? I could not access the article.