Spring Break
CSU versus the First Amendment
Phil Elder
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Opinion
"The Collegian showed a huge lack of professionalism for a college paper."
This argument I will agree with.
The column was crude and unfitting of aspiring journalists at this level of thinking and writing. However, I hardly see this as a sufficient reason to fire the editor in chief, especially since doing so would devastate the newspaper that we all enjoy so well.
If David McSwane is let go, there are no replacements for him.
Those who are qualified for the position are unwilling to take it, and those willing are unqualified either as journalists or as leaders, both of which one requires to become editor in chief.
The paper's integrity and reputation would subsequently plummet for the weeks to follow as a replacement is found, and would then likely limp forward at a fraction of the worth it enjoys today.
By printing this article, the Collegian has shot itself in the foot. If we fire the most qualified editor in chief that CSU has to offer, we will be shooting it in the face.
And to all those who responded to the Collegian with comments like "go to hell," "fuck Dave" and "fuck your mom," congratulations. You have lowered yourself to the writing level of the column you seem to hate so much. Next time maybe you can use big boy words.
Phil Elder is a senior political science major. His column appears occasionally in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
This argument I will agree with.
The column was crude and unfitting of aspiring journalists at this level of thinking and writing. However, I hardly see this as a sufficient reason to fire the editor in chief, especially since doing so would devastate the newspaper that we all enjoy so well.
If David McSwane is let go, there are no replacements for him.
Those who are qualified for the position are unwilling to take it, and those willing are unqualified either as journalists or as leaders, both of which one requires to become editor in chief.
The paper's integrity and reputation would subsequently plummet for the weeks to follow as a replacement is found, and would then likely limp forward at a fraction of the worth it enjoys today.
By printing this article, the Collegian has shot itself in the foot. If we fire the most qualified editor in chief that CSU has to offer, we will be shooting it in the face.
And to all those who responded to the Collegian with comments like "go to hell," "fuck Dave" and "fuck your mom," congratulations. You have lowered yourself to the writing level of the column you seem to hate so much. Next time maybe you can use big boy words.
Phil Elder is a senior political science major. His column appears occasionally in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 105
Craig Hawley
posted 9/27/07 @ 4:36 AM MST
Well Phil Ill try to use big boy words. Let's see if I get this correctly. This guy McSwane drops an F bomb and you think there should be no consequences because he is a good editor. (Continued…)
CAS127
posted 9/27/07 @ 6:44 AM MST
McSwane is free to publish his sub-literate statement (I personally was dazzled by his display of intelligent, well-reasoned analyis) and the people who directly/indirectly fund the paper are free to pull their support in order to try and put it out of business. (Continued…)
Gene McConnell
posted 9/27/07 @ 6:50 AM MST
Is McSwane being threatened with arrest and imprisonmnt? Is he being threatened with deportation? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then his first amendment rights are not being violated. (Continued…)
Alumni
posted 9/27/07 @ 7:01 AM MST
McSwane has made CSU look very foolish, very childish and exceptionally low class. I am embarrassed for my alma mater and hope people nationwide realize McSwane's action is just an attempt at an individual trying desparately to draw attention to himself. (Continued…)
Donald Hackett
posted 9/27/07 @ 7:05 AM MST
Go to this website http://www.epic.org/free_speech/
Obscenity IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT!!
There are multiple case rulings by the Supreme Court. (Continued…)
Ashamed Alumni
posted 9/27/07 @ 7:07 AM MST
"If David McSwane is let go, there are no replacements for him."
What a silly statement.
The reality of the situation is that there are plenty of qualified and competent people who would excel as editor in chief. (Continued…)
You want alumni money and this is how you repay us
posted 9/27/07 @ 7:31 AM MST
Thanks for all the great publicity, McSwane. It's rare that CSU gets any kind of nation mention, but I'd take that over national ridicule. I don't care about the language, I care about the judgement. (Continued…)
Sean Greene
posted 9/27/07 @ 9:15 AM MST
Well I finally found something to disagree with you on. You ackowledge Bush as "the nation's leader". Bush never has been, is not, and never will be my leader. (Continued…)
Mindy
posted 9/27/07 @ 9:32 AM MST
Pulling this "we want people to think about and discuss free speech" bit out of his ass was the best thing that has ever happened to McSwane. I honestly don't think that was ever his, nor the editorial board's intentions. (Continued…)
Mindy
posted 9/27/07 @ 9:36 AM MST
And one more thing: I don't think the argument is "high school students visiting read the F-bomb.."
This paper is distributed throughout the city, in restaurants. (Continued…)
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