The Flip Side's Current Situation
Last issue The Flip Side printed an article entitled “Sexual Depravity,” by Jake Everett. This article which included a joke depicting second degree sexual assault brought about a response of a magnitude we have not seen in a long time. In addition to a variety of very vocal responses from our readers, The Flip Side was told that Jake could be arrested for sexual assault. Additionally, The Flip Side was told that we could incur legal penalties if changes were not made, that we might at some point lose our funding, and we were also pressured to change our completely open submission policy in favor of something other organizations approved of.
However, a simple of review of the free speech literature (o.k. a few easy internet searches), reminded us that offensive speech is a long ways from warranting handcuffs. In America what we print cannot be regulated in any way unless it presents a clear and present danger or slanders or libels someone. Regulating speech for any other reason is censorship. The courts have ruled that this is true even when it comes to publications which are funded by universities. The idea that Jake could be arrested for sexual assault because of his article also proved to be completely bogus. It seems that you actually have to touch someone to be charged with sexual assault. We are disturbed that legal authorities were contacted simply because we put very shocking words on paper. One of the few things which still separates this country from those that are not free is that is the fact that you or I can put whatever the fuck we want on a piece of paper and give it to someone. We feel that when we have lost this power we are in a very bad place.
We believe that you have every right to be outraged by what we print but you can’t question our right to print it. If you are indeed outraged by something we print, we encourage you to submit an article. Because we encourage dialogue of all kinds, every letter we received in response to Jake’s article has been printed, as well as Jake’s response to these letters and the general outcry his article has generated.
We remain disappointed with many at this university because of the extent that censorship was suggested. The fact that police were contacted simply because a journalist printed something that someone did not like is reminiscent of communism, where the press was controlled, and this is in no way an exaggeration.
If The Flip Side were to determine what articles we publish by what the administration determines is acceptable, we would be useless. The entire purpose of a free press is to remain separate from the control of anyone, in order to preserve the individual’s voice. We will not become merely another branch of the university, and we refuse to accept censorship in any form. We will continue to print as many opinions as are submitted to us.
However, a simple of review of the free speech literature (o.k. a few easy internet searches), reminded us that offensive speech is a long ways from warranting handcuffs. In America what we print cannot be regulated in any way unless it presents a clear and present danger or slanders or libels someone. Regulating speech for any other reason is censorship. The courts have ruled that this is true even when it comes to publications which are funded by universities. The idea that Jake could be arrested for sexual assault because of his article also proved to be completely bogus. It seems that you actually have to touch someone to be charged with sexual assault. We are disturbed that legal authorities were contacted simply because we put very shocking words on paper. One of the few things which still separates this country from those that are not free is that is the fact that you or I can put whatever the fuck we want on a piece of paper and give it to someone. We feel that when we have lost this power we are in a very bad place.
We believe that you have every right to be outraged by what we print but you can’t question our right to print it. If you are indeed outraged by something we print, we encourage you to submit an article. Because we encourage dialogue of all kinds, every letter we received in response to Jake’s article has been printed, as well as Jake’s response to these letters and the general outcry his article has generated.
We remain disappointed with many at this university because of the extent that censorship was suggested. The fact that police were contacted simply because a journalist printed something that someone did not like is reminiscent of communism, where the press was controlled, and this is in no way an exaggeration.
If The Flip Side were to determine what articles we publish by what the administration determines is acceptable, we would be useless. The entire purpose of a free press is to remain separate from the control of anyone, in order to preserve the individual’s voice. We will not become merely another branch of the university, and we refuse to accept censorship in any form. We will continue to print as many opinions as are submitted to us.