Another victory for FIRE

Wish I'd said that!

[Reprinted from Issues & Views December 3, 2001]

In a unanimous vote, a hearing panel at Tufts University (Medford, Mass.) voted to dismiss charges of sexual harassment against a student newspaper, The Primary Source, that had satirized a campus student leader. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) advised the paper's editors and communicated vigorously with the administration on their behalf. Thor Halvorssen, Executive Director of FIRE, said: "We are delighted that Tufts chose not to trample on the principles of free speech. This is a victory for everyone who values genuine pluralism."

Halvorssen claimed that, "The expression almost forbidden to The Primary Source is undeniably parody and satire, areas of political speech that are at the core of America's honored traditions. Indeed, parody and satire, especially of leaders and activists, exist to challenge, amuse, and even to offend. The paper also included jokes that mocked President Bush, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Strom Thurmond, and the New York Yankees. Some college students and administrators are under the impression that students have a right not to be offended, which teaches students to call any offense 'harassment' and to run to the Thought Police."

Halvorssen noted that FIRE is delighted that the school avoided a public confrontation on the issue. He observed, however, that the very fact that judicial proceedings against The Primary Source were even considered illustrates anti-intellectualism and repressive administration: "It shows just how far the forces of 'sensitivity' have strayed from essential notions of free speech and academic freedom. They use provisions in the 'sexual harassment policy' because they don't have the guts to call them what they are--speech codes."

-- The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) defends the constitutional rights of students and faculty at American colleges and universities.

Copyright © 2008 Issues & Views