CCSU Op-Ed: "Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It"

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: thawolfman
Wow, my mail account still works... President's Response:

It goes without saying that John Petroski, the Opinion Editor of The Recorder, has the freedom of speech to offer his opinions--satirical, or not. Many times in the past I have been called upon to defend First Amendment principles. But what Mr. Petroski wrote in the February 7 issue of ?The Recorder" deserves to be roundly condemned as deeply offensive and hurtful. It is a clear violation of responsible journalism and the community standards of this institution, where it is inarguable that rape is not a fit topic for humor or satire, particularly in a campus newspaper largely supported by student fees and intended for the readership of the CCSU community. Rape is a profound violation of body and spirit, and to make light of this, even in satire, is abhorrent.

A free press is a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and the courts have continuously upheld the freedom of college newspapers to publish articles without censorship by faculty advisors. I believe that student-run newspapers offer an extraordinary journalistic laboratory and provide an important educational opportunity for students, and I enjoin the faculty and administrators who are working with our student editors to convey the seriousness of this matter and the poor judgment that was exercised in their decision to print such a tasteless and offensive article. We will in the near future gather a group composed of students and faculty to examine the editorial process and to take positive steps to educate students about the damage such blatantly misogynistic and homophobic content causes. While we always want to protect journalistic integrity and First Amendment principles, we need to be sure that students understand that such hateful speech is not protected and simply is not worthy, on any ground, of publication.

Dr. Jack Miller,

President

pwned

 

[totalcommand]

Originally posted by: FrancesBeansRevenge
It's obvious satire but the writer has far too much faith in the ability of the average reader to recognise it as such. To publish this piece at all could be career suicide but if he was trying to prove a point he should have at least included a footnote explaining himself.

Poor taste. He could have made the same point without turning his editor's life into a nightmare of answering angry phonecalls and emails.

well said!

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: So
:laugh:

That's clearly satire. People need to lighten up.

I agree. I thought it was funny.

 

[Miramonti]

Serious or not, what a freak that should be fvcking thrown off a bridge onto a highway so that his head explodes into an 18 wheeler like a watermelon, imo.


Just kidding, call it my own attempt at satire afforded to me by the first amendment.

 

[KMurphy]

It's funny to me because it flies in the face of political "correctness". I support anything that offends other people.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Serious or not, what a freak that should be fvcking thrown off a bridge onto a highway so that his head explodes into an 18 wheeler like a watermelon, imo.


Just kidding, call it my own attempt at satire afforded to me by the first amendment.

How does one's head "explode into an 18 wheeler"?

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: KMurphy
It's funny to me because it flies in the face of political "correctness". I support anything that offends other people.

That's good because he had your mom in mind when he wrote it.


(I thought you'd like that one!)

 

[KMurphy]

Not much really bothers me. I don't like seeing people get physically hurt though. As far as something written or said, I couldn't care less.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: jjsole
Serious or not, what a freak that should be fvcking thrown off a bridge onto a highway so that his head explodes into an 18 wheeler like a watermelon, imo.


Just kidding, call it my own attempt at satire afforded to me by the first amendment.

How does one's head "explode into an 18 wheeler"?

Very carefully.

 

[AbAbber2k]

lol @ reach arounds

 

[aidanjm]

is Petroski cute or handsome himself?

 

[enz660hp]

wooOOOo my college!! found on anandtech! lol...

yeah, initially I thought this was sick, then read it and chuckled at some parts...then moved on with life..

 

[mobobuff]

It's obviously satire, but I could see how someone who had been raped would be angry. Everyone else, though, just roll your eyes and move on. Wanted posters? Seriously.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Just because someone has been raped doesn't take away another person's right to say stupid stuff like what the author of the article wrote. You're thinking emotionally, not logically. I wouldn't have written an article like the idiotic author did, he just had to know that it would offend people and bring negative publicity. It was stupid, but he wrote it anyway. And he's allowed to say it... there's nothing you can do about it.

Actually, yes, there are many things people can do about it. They can refuse to associate with him, refuse to buy the paper, refuse to advertise in the paper, and refuse to hire anyone involved. They can activly boycott the author and paper to recruit others to do the same.

You see how that works? Social consequences does not negate free speech, it merely adds responsibility.

Chances are both the paper and the author will feel severe social consequences for their speech. That's how the world works. They have every right to say anything they please, and others have every right to refuse to associate with them.

 

[Fenixgoon]

edit: nvm.. my searching skills FTL

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: toekramp
satire ftw

Yeah, no kidding. Just read the paper, it's so fvckign obvious that it's satire.