Colorado State University runs ?F**k Bush? editorial

[ProfJohn]

This attempt at political grandstanding by the Colorado State University student newspaper illustrates a few things.

1. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are not so ?free? when you rely on people to pay for your paper or pay for advertising.

2. The four word editorial ?Taser this? F**k Bush? shows just how irrational some people become when dealing with Bush. Bush had NOTHING to do with the kid at UF being tasered, but somehow these college students felt that best response to that incident was to run this editorial.

3. I thought reporters and editors were supposed to be impartial reporters of the news and events. But clearly the students that run this paper crossed that line and tried to make a political statement. Can we finally abandon the idea that reporters and editor?s political beliefs have no effect on what stories they choose to run and how they present stories?
link

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- A four word editorial with a four letter word in it is sparking a spirited discussion on free speech at Colorado State University.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian published an editorial on page 4 of the paper Friday which read "Taser this ... F*** Bush."

The expletive was spelled out

The last two words were in bold type, larger than most headlines. A caption below said, "this column represents the views of the Collegian's Editorial Board."

"I think they went over the line a little bit, but it's free speech and they're allowed to write what they want," one student told 7NEWS.

The editorial comes fresh on the heels of freedom of speech issues that arose from the Tasering of a Florida student at a Sen. John Kerry speech.

Collegian Editor David McSwane said a group of seven student editors discussed the statement for several hours before agreeing to publish it.

"We felt it illustrated our point about freedom of speech," McSwane told 7NEWS. "I think we could write 250 words and ramble on and I don't think anyone would pay attention."

In a letter to the University Community and Collegian readers, McSwane wrote, "While the editorial board feels strongly with regard to First Amendment issues, we have found the unintended consequences of such a bold statement to be extremely disheartening."

McSwane told 7NEWS that ads from the CSU Bookstore were pulled from the paper in response to the editorial. Bookstore managers declined to comment.

The Associated Press Saturday reported the student newspaper has lost $30,000 in advertising and had to cut pay and other budgets by 10 percent because of fallout.

CSU released a statement Friday that said in part, "While we understand that the editorial in today's Rocky Mountain Collegian is upsetting and offensive to many people, CSU is prohibited by law from censoring or regulating the content of its student media publications."

The Board of Student Communications has the authority to hear any and all grievances and complaints related to student media operations. The BSC can also remove student managers, like McSwane, if it deems necessary.

A special meeting of the BSC is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. to hear comments regarding the editorial.

McSwane said he knows his job is on the line.

"I plan to be honest," he said. "Our intentions weren't 'Hey, let's upset the community.' It was, 'Let's get college students to talk about freedom of speech.'"

 

[RichardE]

Chances are they will write some apology, and the advertisers will come back. Meh, who cares though, advertising gets pulled all the time for a million different reasons.

 

[Pliablemoose]

LOL, at least the mods here request a news article to correspond with an opinion

Pretty lame journalism if you ask me.

 

[StageLeft]

How have we become so pathetic that now the biggest thing in news is what is printed in news, not the actual news itself?

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
How have we become so pathetic that now the biggest thing in news is what is printed in news, not the actual news itself?

Only to sensationalists

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Skoorb
How have we become so pathetic that now the biggest thing in news is what is printed in news, not the actual news itself?

Only to sensationalists

Yeah, so a great big portion of the population, if the prevalence of such articles on mainstream news sites is any indication.

 

[Arkaign]

Should we be upset at all the articles online about how bad John Kerry, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, Robert Byrd, etc are? I think it's a non-issue personally, because it's just opinion/OP-ED crap, which is 90% garbage on both sides anyway.

But no, let's post about it here and whine about it, good job!

OOO look, a whole site dedicated to trashing Hillary Clinton is, complete with Ann Coultergeist advertisments! LOL.

http://www.hillaryproject.com/...ails/dont_vote_hillary

IMHO, freedom of speech should remain open, and we shouldn't whine about it, but rather look at the people who run trashy editiorials/sites as the trash they are, right OR left. K thanx.

 

[Pabster]

More of the same old left-wing diatribes from liberal universities.

Let them write whatever they want. At least they can't hide anymore, what with the explosion of blogs and alternative news sources. They'll be accountable for their words.

 

[IronWing]

I can't think of a more devious way to hide your views than to publish them in a newspaper under a provocative headline.

It's a student newspaper.; stupidity is par for the course. Getting your undies in a knot over the contents of a student newspaper is like acting all shocked when a Republican does something unethical.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Pabster
More of the same old left-wing diatribes from liberal universities.

Let them write whatever they want. At least they can't hide anymore, what with the explosion of blogs and alternative news sources. They'll be accountable for their words.

Since when WEREN'T they accountable?

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: feralkid
Since when WEREN'T they accountable?

Before students had voice recorders and student newspapers became world newspapers via the Internet.

It's a lot easier to say things when no one is listening.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
...
3. I thought reporters and editors were supposed to be impartial reporters of the news and events. But clearly the students that run this paper crossed that line and tried to make a political statement. Can we finally abandon the idea that reporters and editor?s political beliefs have no effect on what stories they choose to run and how they present stories?
...

It's an OP-ED, genius. Those aren't supposed to be unbiased or impartial. But you knew that, because you're stupid, but you're not stupid...you know?

 

[theeedude]

This kind of news makes me want to move to Fort Collins. I love that town.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: feralkid
Since when WEREN'T they accountable?

Before students had voice recorders and student newspapers became world newspapers via the Internet.

It's a lot easier to say things when no one is listening.

You have a very strange view of newspapers. Newspaper publishers went to the internet for the same reason they published papers. They want their views to be read.

 

[her209]

http://media.www.collegian.com...tatement-2984663.shtml

Letter from Collegian Editor in Chief regarding Bush statement
J. David McSwane

To: University Community and Collegian readers
From: J. David McSwane, Editor in Chief
Re: Collegian editorial

On Friday, September 21, the The Rocky Mountain Collegian editorial board printed a statement bashing President Bush in its Opinion section in an effort to highlight the importance of free speech on a college campus. In doing so, the editorial board and I realized the statement was controversial and unpopular among some students and community members.

This letter should serve as an explanation to readers who were offended and upset by the editorial statement. While the editorial board feels strongly with regard to first amendment issues, we have found the unintended consequences of such a bold statement to be extremely disheartening.

As a student-run publication with a proud 116-year tradition of serving Colorado State University Students and the surrounding communities, it is our responsibility to uphold the standards set by my predecessors. We intend to continue this tradition.

As local and national media will inevitably jump on this controversy, I strongly urge the university community to try and understand that the intentions of the students on staff, including me, were not to cause harm, but rather to reinforce the importance of free speech at our great institution. My staff and I are extremely proud to be CSU students and members of this amazing community, and it is my sincere hope that our readers understand our intentions were not malicious.

The First Amendment is at the very core of what we do as a newspaper. We as journalists wish to celebrate it, utilize it and, sometimes, defend it. The Collegian editorial board, a group of seven student editors charged with determining a staff editorial for each issue, voted to run the editorial statement. This vote was a split vote, but the board as a whole as agreed to stand behind this decision and to continue the Collegian tradition.

Finally, we are available to any students or community members who wish to voice their complaints, feedback or opinions regarding this issue. Please don't hesitate to send your letters to letters@collegian.com or by submitting them online at www.collegian.com.

Sincerely,

J. David McSwane
Editor in Chief

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This attempt at political grandstanding by the Colorado State University student newspaper illustrates a few things.

1. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are not so ?free? when you rely on people to pay for your paper or pay for advertising.

2. The four word editorial ?Taser this? F**k Bush? shows just how irrational some people become when dealing with Bush. Bush had NOTHING to do with the kid at UF being tasered, but somehow these college students felt that best response to that incident was to run this editorial.

3. I thought reporters and editors were supposed to be impartial reporters of the news and events. But clearly the students that run this paper crossed that line and tried to make a political statement. Can we finally abandon the idea that reporters and editor?s political beliefs have no effect on what stories they choose to run and how they present stories?
link

Are you complaining that an editorial is promoting an opinon? Are you retarded?

 

[Balt]

Meh, this is a non-story. The problem isn't that they wrote something derogatory about Bush. The problem is that they did it in such an unprofessional manner that their advertisers decided to pull out their money.

To make this into a national issue is just as dumb as making what Imus said into a national issue. One of this country's biggest problems is not what people say, it's the manufactured outrage and frenzy that results. Everyone thinks that they have a right to silence anyone who hurts their feelings.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: her209
http://media.www.collegian.com...tatement-2984663.shtml

Letter from Collegian Editor in Chief regarding Bush statement
J. David McSwane

To: University Community and Collegian readers
From: J. David McSwane, Editor in Chief
Re: Collegian editorial

On Friday, September 21, the The Rocky Mountain Collegian editorial board printed a statement bashing President Bush in its Opinion section in an effort to highlight the importance of free speech on a college campus. In doing so, the editorial board and I realized the statement was controversial and unpopular among some students and community members.

This letter should serve as an explanation to readers who were offended and upset by the editorial statement. While the editorial board feels strongly with regard to first amendment issues, we have found the unintended consequences of such a bold statement to be extremely disheartening.

As a student-run publication with a proud 116-year tradition of serving Colorado State University Students and the surrounding communities, it is our responsibility to uphold the standards set by my predecessors. We intend to continue this tradition.

As local and national media will inevitably jump on this controversy, I strongly urge the university community to try and understand that the intentions of the students on staff, including me, were not to cause harm, but rather to reinforce the importance of free speech at our great institution. My staff and I are extremely proud to be CSU students and members of this amazing community, and it is my sincere hope that our readers understand our intentions were not malicious.

The First Amendment is at the very core of what we do as a newspaper. We as journalists wish to celebrate it, utilize it and, sometimes, defend it. The Collegian editorial board, a group of seven student editors charged with determining a staff editorial for each issue, voted to run the editorial statement. This vote was a split vote, but the board as a whole as agreed to stand behind this decision and to continue the Collegian tradition.

Finally, we are available to any students or community members who wish to voice their complaints, feedback or opinions regarding this issue. Please don't hesitate to send your letters to letters@collegian.com or by submitting them online at www.collegian.com.

Sincerely,

J. David McSwane
Editor in Chief

That letter doesn't say a damn thing while giving the impression that it does. Pretty good for a college newspaper editor. J. David McSwane has a bright future in corporate communications.

 

[dahunan]

fvck Bush
Go Fvck yourself Cheney
Fvck ALL PNAC supporters
Fvck Neocons

^^ all of them are bent on destroying America..

 

[Jaskalas]

I always find it odd when people disrespect a nation which affords them the right to hold that disrespect instead of killing them for it. Like biting the hand that feeds you, no?

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
I always find it odd when people disrespect a nation which affords them the right to hold that disrespect instead of killing them for it. Like biting the hand that feeds you, no?

Kind of like saying "We have freedom of speech here, just don't be such an ass as to use it".

Disrespecting Bush != disrespecting the nation. Just the opposite really.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
I always find it odd when people disrespect a nation which affords them the right to hold that disrespect instead of killing them for it. Like biting the hand that feeds you, no?

I'm not surprised that a person like you would find that odd, not surprised at all.

 

[SViscusi]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
I always find it odd when people disrespect a nation which affords them the right to hold that disrespect instead of killing them for it. Like biting the hand that feeds you, no?

Since when is disrespecting Bush disrespecting a nation? Or are you trying to equate dissatisfaction with one of the worst presidents of all time as an insult to the country?

 

[her209]

How dare businesses have signs in a languages other than English...

 

[WhipperSnapper]

It would be funny if the students decided to boycott the advertisers. Then they'd find out that showing support for a retard president is not "free".