October 19, 2006

Unbelievable. Seriously. Unbelievable.

But then again, I guess now that habeas corpus and the Geneva Conventions are optional niceties, why should free speech be any different? BTW, let me reiterate that this kind of stuff used to drive the conservatives batshit crazy. Hard to do that now, since the term "free speech zone" was so commonplace on the Bush campaign trail, and the Preacher in Chief barred anyone who disagreed with him from attending his own tax-payer paid campaign events.

Tell you what. When conservatives figure out what they stand for, maybe they can tell me. Because it sure as hell isn't a fear of encroaching centralized government.

University Bans Humor Quotation From Student's Door -- 10/19/2006:
"(CNSNews.com) - Officials at Marquette University have ordered a Ph.D. student to remove a quotation critical of the federal government from his office door, because the hallway the door faces is not a "free speech zone."

In August, Stuart Distler, a doctoral student teacher, posted a quotation from humor columnist Dave Barry on his office door. "As Americans, we must always remember that we all have a common enemy, an enemy that is dangerous, powerful and relentless," the sign stated. "I refer, of course, to the federal government."

On Sept. 5, Philosophy Department Chairman James South informed Distler via email that the sign had been taken down because it was "patently offensive."

"While I'm a strong supporter of academic freedom," South wrote, "I'm afraid that hallways and office doors are not 'free-speech zones.' If material is patently offensive and has no obvious academic import or university sanction, I have little choice but to take note.""

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Except that Marquette is a private, Catholic, university - and can probably enforce whatever speech codes it sees fit.

But I agree with the larger point - free speech zones in public areas seems Orwellian.

Streak said...

Point well taken. Actually, the other interesting issue here is what constitutes "offensive."