Posted on 09/22/2007 12:14:29 PM PDT by Roberts
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- A four word editorial with a four letter word in it is sparking a spirited discussion on free speech at Colorado State University.
The Rocky Mountain Collegian published an editorial on page 4 of the paper Friday which read "Taser this ... F*** Bush."
The expletive was spelled out.
The last two words were in bold type, larger than most headlines. A caption below said, "this column represents the views of the Collegian's Editorial Board."
"I think they went over the line a little bit, but it's free speech and they're allowed to write what they want," one student told 7NEWS.
The editorial comes fresh on the heels of freedom of speech issues that arose from the Tasering of a Florida student at a Sen. John Kerry speech.
Collegian Editor David McSwane said a group of seven student editors discussed the statement for several hours before agreeing to publish it.
"We felt it illustrated our point about freedom of speech," McSwane told 7NEWS. "I think we could write 250 words and ramble on and I don't think anyone would pay attention."
In a letter to the University Community and Collegian readers, McSwane wrote, "While the editorial board feels strongly with regard to First Amendment issues, we have found the unintended consequences of such a bold statement to be extremely disheartening."
McSwane told 7NEWS that ads from the CSU Bookstore were pulled from the paper in response to the editorial. Bookstore managers declined to comment.
CSU released a statement Friday that said in part, "While we understand that the editorial in today's Rocky Mountain Collegian is upsetting and offensive to many people, CSU is prohibited by law from censoring or regulating the content of its student media publications."
The Board of Student Communications has the authority to hear any and all grievances and complaints related to student media operations. The BSC can also remove student managers, like McSwane, if it deems necessary.
A special meeting of the BSC is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. to hear comments regarding the editorial.
McSwane said he knows his job is on the line.
"I plan to be honest," he said. "Our intentions weren't 'Hey, let's upset the community.' It was, 'Let's get college students to talk about freedom of speech.'"
He must have a very low opinion of his audience to think that his solution was the best way to initiate a discussion about freedom of speech. Regrettably, his parents are probably proud of him.
“I plan to be honest,” he said. “Our intentions weren’t ‘Hey, let’s upset the community.’ It was, ‘Let’s get college students to talk about freedom of speech.’”
When some one starts a sentence that way, it’s a safe bet they are about to lie to you.
Since the tasering occurred at a Kerry speech, not a Bush speech, shouldn’t the profanity be “Taser this, F*** Kerry”?
What deep, profound, thought-provoking swamp did these jerks come from? What an excuse for a college!
That's stunningly stupid. He's probably one of those who are preventing military recruiters, the ROTC, and the Minutemen from being anywhere near his moonbatty ivory tower, just like the hysterical feminists who forced out Summers (another big lib) as president of Harvard and are now preventing him from speaking at UCDavis (another nest of the lib looneys). What these morons forget is that freedom of speech runs both ways.
Taser Dork was an orange on orange engagement, fratricide amongst the comrades.
And of course, stupid evil genius Bush tricked them into it.
I fail to understand what Bush has to do with the Taser incident besides them suffering from a extreme case of BDS
Childish, emotional, devoid of thought, angry, puerile (but I repeat myself).
Frankly I’m glad to see this. It perfectly illustrates the mindset of the left. They don’t feel the need to convince anyone of their position with reasoned thought. They think a primal scream is sufficient.
He lied, but then again don't most liberals. The problem is too much self-esteem and too little self-control.
What a freaking bunch of asshats
Since he specifically asked for it, then I say make the boy happy.
This is what got me. They can't get anybody to read their dumb paper, but maybe they can catch somebody's attention with a big ADVERTISMENT!
3 a : THEORETICAL, SPECULATIVE b : having no practical or useful significance
Between this childish outburst and Columbia U's equally childish conduct, academia indeed is making itself "academic."
“Taser this ... F*** Bush.”.......Just another example of whack left scholastic achievement levels.
Future editor of the NYT??
Of course. These college children are a little confused, lol.
There’s a video on youtube where a student is responding to the tasering. The guy rips into Kerry asking why he didn’t intervene, and calling him everyname in the book. Then he makes the point (even though he states he’s an avowed liberal) that he is sure that George Bush would not have let something like that go on, he would have intervened. He ends the diatribe by saying he was glad Kerry didn’t get elected. Very entertaining to watch!
Notice how the excuse for juvenile liberal behavior is always, “to get people talking”. What a load.
Additionally, it was at a Kerry speech that the guy got himself tazed, so there is no connection to Bush, except in their little cracked minds.
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