2008 Woodie Awards
Our View
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Collegian critics say Friday's "Our View" was immature, unnecessary and offensive. We don't disagree.
However, those four words accomplished more than any other staff editorial we've written this year. It got people thinking about free speech, its boundaries and the importance of exercising it on a college campus.
And yes, First Amendment rights have been and will continue to be trampled on if they are not constantly challenged.
The bold statement we printed was more a declaration of free speech than it was a political statement about President Bush.
We've written several opinion pieces bashing the president, and all of those fell on deaf, apathetic ears - a disappointing truth on the CSU campus.
It's interesting and scary that the use of the F-word garners more attention than an intelligent, well-researched editorial.
Yes, we could have used our usual 250 words to discuss the same topic, but who would have read it? And who would have spoken out against it or in favor of it? Who would have talked about it at all?
We took a stand, and a rather risky move, to tell our readers in just a few words that we, as college students, should wake up and start asking questions, demanding answers and challenging norms.
Our fellow college students, they can't Taser all of us.
Lastly, some of our critics have expressed their own opinions and some of them are well beyond the blunt, offensiveness of our four words. Yet, to this, we commend your execution of free speech, and we will print every word of your letters to the editor.
After all, that's what this is all about.
However, those four words accomplished more than any other staff editorial we've written this year. It got people thinking about free speech, its boundaries and the importance of exercising it on a college campus.
And yes, First Amendment rights have been and will continue to be trampled on if they are not constantly challenged.
The bold statement we printed was more a declaration of free speech than it was a political statement about President Bush.
We've written several opinion pieces bashing the president, and all of those fell on deaf, apathetic ears - a disappointing truth on the CSU campus.
It's interesting and scary that the use of the F-word garners more attention than an intelligent, well-researched editorial.
Yes, we could have used our usual 250 words to discuss the same topic, but who would have read it? And who would have spoken out against it or in favor of it? Who would have talked about it at all?
We took a stand, and a rather risky move, to tell our readers in just a few words that we, as college students, should wake up and start asking questions, demanding answers and challenging norms.
Our fellow college students, they can't Taser all of us.
Lastly, some of our critics have expressed their own opinions and some of them are well beyond the blunt, offensiveness of our four words. Yet, to this, we commend your execution of free speech, and we will print every word of your letters to the editor.
After all, that's what this is all about.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
sk8rgurl13
posted 9/24/07 @ 12:48 AM MST
I don't know where you have been lately. As a college student who hates everything Bush stands for, I feel ashamed of you. You make me look bad. And as for your noble intentions, just look at the conversations on the comment boards here. (Continued…)
Michael Yeager
posted 9/24/07 @ 3:33 AM MST
Sk8rgurl3 so what if you hate Bush, do you actually talk about it? Do you actually do anything about it? When was the last time you stood up for your beliefs as boldly and as loudly as the Collegian did? Instead if being angry about the use of "fuck" why not applaud the newspaper for taking a stand!
warrior9504
posted 9/24/07 @ 7:07 AM MST
So a liberal student speaking at a liberal college asks a question of a liberal politician...and when he gets tasered somehow it's the Bush Administration restricting free speech. (Continued…)
David Stonecipher
posted 9/24/07 @ 7:29 AM MST
"The bold statement we printed...."
Yes, but only in the second sense of the word as defined by my dictionary - "Unduly forward, brazen; impudent."
Your "editorial," and your waffling excuses and illuminations, bespeak a bias than cannot be thought to have anything other than a stiffling influence on opinions other than your own. (Continued…)
Jim
posted 9/24/07 @ 7:31 AM MST
It was a ridiculously immature and stupid thing to publish. How is this a comment on free speech? That's a complete joke. These editors need to grow up and stop acting like the fly-by-night, A. (Continued…)
Paul
posted 9/24/07 @ 8:49 AM MST
What a total waste of money, sending pre-pubescent ideologues to college. WOW, I printed FUCK in the editorial.......I'm brain dead, but I printed FUCK in the editorial. (Continued…)
Angelo
posted 9/24/07 @ 9:12 AM MST
Struggling my way through your insufferable and disingenuous defense of the so-called "editorial", it dawned on me that nowhere, do you, or any of these editorial board members acknowledge that you DO have freedom of speech, as witnesessed in the publication of the vile, obnoxious editorial that set off this shit storm in the first place. (Continued…)
JuanCarlosRodriguez Esquire
posted 9/24/07 @ 10:08 AM MST
Guys, let us reason together:
Yes, you have the right to publish what you want, assuming it does not infringe on anyone else's right to speech nor incite harm upon anyone through your speech. (Continued…)
Eastern
posted 9/24/07 @ 10:17 AM MST
The Collegian is now among the ranks of Howard Stern; shock artists. It's pitiful considering that this is a student newspaper, one might expect something intelligent or at least original. (Continued…)
Ben
posted 9/24/07 @ 11:23 AM MST
"We've written several opinion pieces bashing the president, and all of those fell on deaf, apathetic ears - a disappointing truth on the CSU campus.
It's interesting and scary that the use of the F-word garners more attention than an intelligent, well-researched editorial. (Continued…)
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