Long Live Freedom of the Press!
Pop open those bottles of bubbly, y’all! The Collegiate Network (thank you, Steve Klugewicz) and the FIRE (thank you, David French!) are toasting our victories as we speak.
Excerpt from the FIRE press release:
President Frohnmayers refusal to correct the PFC was irresponsible, commented Greg Lukianoff, FIREs director of legal and public advocacy. The students needed guidance on the law from the administration, and from President Frohnmayers response it looks as though the students were never provided with the guidance they neededuntil FIRE decided to write the students directly.
We certainly hope that the ASUOand the UO administrationhas learned its lesson and that, from now on, student fees will not be used as a tool to favor or disfavor particular viewpoints. FIRE will continue to monitor the situation at UO to ensure that this attempt at censorship does not happen again, concluded FIREs French.
Hats off to the Collegiate Network and our supporters on campus for having faith in our ability to remain a strong presence at the University of Oregon.
No *they* don’t…(sarcasm)
That’s why I use the above handy sarcasm disclaimer.
I’ve learned my sarcasm goes along just fine so long as I stray from using the word ‘pseudo’ anywhere.
But com’on Mel.. she put three periods after her statement.. I mean *everyone* knows thats sarcasm…
Ah. See: Clint and Andy for problems communicating sarcasm in internet forums.
Now who’s having trouble understanding sarcasm?
Marla: Thank you!
I also nominated us for a Polly. I think we have a good chance (read: understatment of the year)
I’m a little disapointed with FIRE on this one, to tell you the truth.
I’ve followed some of their campaigns over the last year or so, and overall they seem like a good organization, but they were too quick on the trigger here.
For my money, and here I mean that quite literally, there’s few more important modes of free expression than giving students control over how their own funds are used. The University of Oregon’s a national leader in that regard, and I hope we stay that way.
Does that mean student leaders should operate without guidelines, or be able to restrict free speech*? Of course not. But look at our current situation: without intervention by the office of the President or external agents by way of lawsuit, the problem has been corrected. A check here, a balance there, and yes Virginia, student government did it’s job correctly.
Was it an ideal year? Hah. But then, that’s why we have all of our regulations, and the con court to rule on them. They work, as we eventually saw this year.
As far as I’m concerned, FIRE should’ve let the process play itself out, and see if it couldn’t fix itself, before unduly influencing the debate with the threat of a lawsuit.
*Ridiculously loaded phrase
Point taken. So glad that you’re on the job…
The relationship is on the mend.
A CN paper that they dis-invite to their annual conference because they disagree with its content?
I didn’t think they were taking credit. Just applauding us for being a CN paper and winning the fight.
Interesting that CN is so happy to take credit for this victory.
And the world is safe for freedom once again! Huzzah!