College Makes Us Smart Profane
[Guest post by DRJ]
In more college news, this time from Colorado:
“A profane four-word editorial in Friday’s Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University’s student newspaper, caused advertisers to pull $30,000 worth of advertising and prompted the newsroom to slash student employee pay and other budgets by 10 percent, according to a confidential memo.
The Friday editorial read in large type “Taser this… F– BUSH,” along with a sentence in regular type saying “This column represents the views of the Collegian’s editorial board.” The F-word was spelled out in the editorial, and the phrase was printed about twice the size of a normal headline.
In a letter posted on the Collegian’s Web site Friday afternoon, Editor-in-Chief J. David McSwane said the editorial was meant to highlight the importance of free speech.”
Apparently the editors of the Collegian, which is funded entirely by advertising [Note: Bad move, dudes], were making a First Amendment point following the taser incident at the University of Florida earlier this week:
“The editorial did not explain why the paper’s editors chose to print it. However, the paper’s front page carried a headline and story about free speech limits regarding an incident Monday where a college student in Florida was shot with a Taser during an appearance by U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. The First Amendment also was printed on Friday’s front page.”
Granted, the editorial was short and (not-so-)sweet but it’s hard to imagine how the UF incident was Bush’s fault. Plus, I thought a college education was supposed to help people express themselves more, not less.
— DRJ
It would be interesting to find out who the advertisers are who pulled out. Perhaps they could be patronized on-line, or via telephone, to show that others support their action.
I am sure that Mr. McSwane has a bright future as a producer for Dan Rather.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 9/22/2007 @ 2:04 pmhard to imagine how the UF incident was Bush’s fault.
It’s an article of faith … no matter what goes wrong with the world it’s Bu$Hitler’s fault.
Darleen (187edc) — 9/22/2007 @ 2:55 pmI wish I knew who the advertisers are who pulled their ads. I’d like to send some business their way.
Beldar (2a3e92) — 9/22/2007 @ 3:17 pmI just read that the CSU Bookstore withdrew their ad. The article did not mention any others.
PatAZ (56a0a8) — 9/22/2007 @ 3:50 pmAlthough their offerings may be of limited interest.
kishnevi (ef7425) — 9/22/2007 @ 4:28 pmBeldar and others interested
If the editors only wanted to provoke a discussion about freedom of speech, why didn’t they just write F- Penley (the CSU President), or maybe even F- Clinton or F- Obama? No, it is always Cheney this or Bush that. It’s transparently obvious that much more was intended by this calculated insult than just an intellectual excercise in free speech.
Iapetus (ea6f31) — 9/22/2007 @ 6:46 pmLiberals blabbering about tolerence but are too darn ignorant to know what the word means
krazy kagu (444070) — 9/23/2007 @ 11:16 amBut where is Alphie and ‘Cleo to explain to us just how it WAS Bush’s fault?
Techie (c003f1) — 9/23/2007 @ 12:00 pmIt’s sooooo hard when you’re young and so profoundly morally superior to everybody.
Patricia (4117a9) — 9/23/2007 @ 12:06 pmDood – Words have consequences.
daleyrocks (906622) — 9/23/2007 @ 1:59 pm“Dood – Words have consequences.”
I’m tempted to say; “Doody!” but those consequences……………………
Don’t those dumb college students KNOW the paper is supported by local ads whose rates are determined on readership?
I wonder if terminations by the Board will be influenced by an increase in circulation?
Semanticleo (4741c2) — 9/28/2007 @ 7:04 amCareer training opportunities
Check with your company’s HR office to determine exactly what type of educational benefits are available. Some companies hire consultants who come on-site to run seminars and conduct one-on-one training programs for example. Another type of educational benefit many companies use is to allow employees to enroll in classes or degree programs either at universities nearby or via distance-learning educational programs, and then reimburse the cost of that tuition.
If there are no benefits that are offered but you deem it necessary to acquire additional knowledge, consider working with a tutor or taking courses at either a reputed nearby community college or in-state public university where the tuition is likely to be much cheaper, but the education is still just as good.
Online College Education (82aa8e) — 4/21/2008 @ 3:36 am