http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/172006a.asp

Quote :

"The report is entitled "Report on the State of the First Amendment in the University of North Carolina System" -- and FIRE's Greg Lukianoff says what is revealed in the report "ought to outrage everyone" in the state. A press release on the report offers several examples: * A ban on "insults, taunts, or challenges directed toward another person" (Appalachian State University). * A practice of outlawing "statements of intolerance" (North Carolina Central University), which FIRE says mirrors a speech code in Pennsylvania that was deemed unconstitutional. * A requirement that all students "respect the dignity of all persons" and "strive for the openness to learn from differences in people" lest they be punished (UNC Asheville). * A policy outlawing "disrespect for persons" (UNC Greensboro), which FIRE describes as "Orwellian." * Two instances in which FIRE says it had to intervene to protect Christian student groups that were "threatened with dissolution" for refusing to admit members who did not share their beliefs (both incidents at UNC Chapel Hill). According to Lukianoff, the UNC system is merely one among many in the U.S. that are guilty of restricting students' free speech. "North Carolina exemplifies so much that is wrong with American higher education today," FIRE's interim president offers. "From its unconstitutional speech codes to its quashing of religious groups, the UNC System contains perfect examples of all the things we are fighting nationwide.""

I'm torn here, but mainly, these do seem to restrict free speech, don't they?

1/18/2006 8:24:20 AM

they forgot the

* A ban on posting pictures of legal drinking with a minor present in the room on thefacebook.com (North Carolina State University)

1/18/2006 8:34:19 AM

some might have alternative explainations, like the last one in DG's list could be something about a student group getting school/public money and thus subjecting it to certain rules/obligations... don't know about the other ones though.

1/18/2006 8:38:01 AM

In response to the question of the thread in general, oh yeah, i definitley think that the big schools are throwing around all kinds of unconstitutional things. They don't have a problem getting away with it when student government doesn't have any serious active participation by the student body and repremands come in the form of "voilations" and go on your permanent record in the university at that student conduct office, yada yada yada.

someone could fight any one of those things long enough and get it removed. Could, not will.

1/18/2006 8:44:50 AM

i don't think that harassment is covered under free speech

1/18/2006 9:38:06 AM

FUCK YOU, THAT'S SO UNCLASSY!

1/18/2006 9:52:46 AM

^haha

So I guess they're cool with our bashing the Heels and their lack of men that go for women.

1/18/2006 10:08:21 AM

So if a girlyman asks me why I'm laughing, I have to lie?

1/18/2006 10:14:19 AM

Quote :

"i don't think that harassment is covered under free speech"

well no, but not everything here would count as harassment. I think the problem is the vagueness of these rules. For instance, A practice of outlawing "statements of intolerance?" Sure, it's pretty awful to be a racist and shout "i hate niggers" in a public arena, but it IS protected speech.

not to mention A requirement that all students "respect the dignity of all persons" and "strive for the openness to learn from differences in people." Obviously, respecting the dignity of all persons and striving for openness is great, and I certainly would like it to be universal, but not by forcing people to adhere to only certain guidelines of speech.

1/18/2006 10:53:28 AM

I never thought I'd see the day where DirtyGreek used a link from agapepress.org.

I'm torn on this one as well. For the most part, I understand and am even sympathetic with the reasoning behind most of these laws. However, they are so vague that the laws are dangerous. Heck, the unofficial version of "Red and White" would be a violation under four of the five examples given since it insults and taunts UNC, challenges Duke and Wake students, could easily be viewed as a statement of intolerance for UNC students, and obviously doesn't show much respect for them either.

1/18/2006 1:47:19 PM

well, I got the link from another site that was dissing agapepress's article, but i was like, um, I think they're partially right. Hate to use such a biased source but that's where I found it

1/18/2006 1:52:17 PM

i blame cheese
i wonder what salisburyboy will blame it on

1/18/2006 3:53:42 PM