Florida University Shuts Student Paper

AP ^ | 04-11-03

[jmaroneps37]

On battlefields big and small WE ARE WINNING!!!

[mountaineer]

``We've learned a lot in the last week as students and journalists,'' said fired editor in chief Teresa Schwarz. ``I think that's something they're overlooking.''

I hope you learned some common sense, but I doubt it.

[JohnnyZ]

Sounds like a bunch of little brats who need to grow up. Hope mommy and daddy are proud.

[Support Free Republic]

KEEP AMERICA FREE

DONATE TODAY
SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server
Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com Become A Monthly Donor

STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD-
It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[Alberta's Child]

My college newspaper used to have an annual April Fools' Day edition. During my second year it was a classic -- articles that were totally B.S. but were just realistic enough to make you think they were true, including plans to conduct a joint nuclear research project with the University of Moscow (this was during the Cold War), a plan to demolish one of the administrative buildings and replace it with a cultural center (complete with architects' renderings of the new building), and a version of the weekly "police blotter" report that included a story about the school president getting arrested on charges of public lewdness.

[Cordova Belle]

I was news editor (i.e., front page editor) of my college paper (also a Baptist school), and one year, we put out an April Fools issue.

But it was all just funny stuff, no double entendre, slurs, or foul language.

What got the MOST raised eyebrows from the faculty was totally benign by today's standards: I wrote a fake article that the newest building on campus, Self Hall, home of the School of Business, had been condemned by building code inspectors.

Since it had JUST been dedicated at multiple millions of dollars and was Administration's pride and joy, I got a couple of comments from the faculty.

But it was all in good fun.

[FryingPan101]

"issue included profanity, racist jokes and a sex column advocating rape and domestic violence."

You wonder what kind of mind thinks this kind of foolishness is funny even on one day out of the year.

[AUsome Joy]

This reminds me of one of the funniest April Fools stories I have seen. I still chuckle when I remember it. Years ago, maybe the sixties, one of the major networks (Huntley-Brinkley ?) had a piece about how the Italian spagetti crop was suffering. It then showed the Italians workers reaching up and taking spagetti off the trees with the voice over story. It was told completely seriously.

[Revolting cat!]

Inside the fake issue, the Howard Thurman lecture series _ designed to promote racial dialogue--was satirized with an article about a racist Civil War enthusiast drinking beer at a podium. The weekly sex column was written in Ebonics.

It's so nice to see the leftists and the conservatives (here) hold hands and sing Kumbaya together! No siree, can't mock "diversity", can't mock Ebonics, can't expose the art form called [c]rap music for its violent message.

[Snickersnee]

I remember the spaghetti story! It was the BBC. Hilarious straight-faced comedy that the Brits do best of all.

[CyberAnt]

"something they're overlooking"

I don't think so ... I think they saw exactly what they were supposed to see ... it was time for the adults to take charge of the children.

[AUsome Joy]

I think you are right. It was probably picked up by one of our stations. It reminded me of the ERPI films we used to watch in geograpy classes. I can't believe someone else remembers it.

[americafirst]

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/top100.html


#1: The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest
In 1957 the respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of viewers were taken in, and many called up wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. To this question, the BBC diplomatically replied that they should "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best." Check out the actual broadcast archived on the BBC's website (You need the RealVideo player installed to see it, and it usually loads very slowly). -More-

[AUsome Joy]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot believe how amazing Freepers are. I thought that segment would have been lost. I enjoyed it all over again. Funny how time changes your memory. I thought they were Italians and that it was a bad crop. I can't believe that people believed the story.

[AUsome Joy]

See americafirst's post 14. He posted the site that has the video. It was the Number One hoax.

[Dog Gone]

I'm on the side of the student newspaper in this dispute. Maybe some of the satire was tasteless, but anyone who was offended was probably trying to be offended.

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

Stetson Graduate Bump!

Ahh, the memories of surfing the inlet at New Symrna Beach...

[Timesink]

This is a perfect example of why no college should have an administration-run newspaper.

[mabelkitty]

I don't think it's funny, actually. It's not creative or clever at all.

They obviously skipped the class on satire and irony, and went directly to Democratic Campaign Strategies.