Dave Barry: Threat to the Republic
The other day a kid from my alma mater called asking for money for the alumni fund or whatever. I wish I had seen this so I could have told him why I wasn’t donating:
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.”
I have little choice but to take note, too.
You should write a letter to your alumni assoc, saying as much. Believe it or not, the alumni associations at most colleges have more sway than deans, department heads and the president combined. Money talks, bullshit walks.
styro - October 26th, 2006 at 4:48 pmThis only bothers me enough to make a weblog post, but not enough to write an email. It’s a fine line.
rob - October 27th, 2006 at 8:48 am