COLUMN: Free Me, Fagin

From Stephen Glass's "Enemy of the People," Fall '93 The academic mission of this University must be just that – to seek truth without regard to politics, public opinion and personal gain. And, yesterday, Interim President Claire Fagin opened the door to that mission by asking for comment on the University's speech code. In the past, I have reserved this space for my commentary and opinion. Today I ask for your help. Currently, a University student has less rights than his counterpart who attends a local community college or did not pursue higher education and went to work in the local factory. In every setting outside of this campus, people assume that as an American citizen each of us has the fundamental right to think and express those thoughts. At this university, those same rights are not available. Speech that is deemed inappropriate by University Life officials is banned under the guise of "civility." The administrators who continue to demand reins on our minds must fear the gallop of intellectual inquiry. And those that fear this sole tenent of academia do not understand the meaning of education through questioning. They might as well xerox their lecture notes, put them on reserve and go home. Bans on Galileo's vision of the universe and Darwin's model of life seem ridiculous in 1993, but today the same tyranny rages on College Green. Now is our chance to talk. Fagin has promised to listen to our comments and possibly eliminate the fascist code. Not by accident, restrictions to free speech can only be brought down by more speech. Yes, free speech allows for racism, sexism and homophobia. But that is okay. It also allows for civil rights, feminism and gay rights. When we are forced to debate the unthinkable we can defeat it, while when we are encouraged to dismiss it, the cancer only grows. True, civility may be sacrificed, but it is more civilized to think. The public once found evolution blasphemous and tried a public school teacher named Scopes for violating the morals of our society. But to Clarence Darrow, the right to conscientious was sacred. Today's Darrows must flood Fagin's office with speech. Call her office daily, write her or e-mail her a note. Someday you may be on the wrong side of the kangaroo court. For instance, assume one day you decide, just for the sake of debate, to question affirmative action – you may find your transcript has been stamped racial harasser. Or assume, just for a moment, your fraternity, club, or theater group's poster is misinterpreted and considered offensive to some campus population. Are you willing to be held collectively responsible? Or assume there is a rumor that you once said something that others find offensive. Don't forget that heresay is admissable at the University's court. And if you get to a trial do not expect it to be fair. Understand the judicial burden falls on you, the defendant, if in the individual who serves as the prosecuter and judge thinks you have erred. But now Claire Fagin has said to the effect: "Maybe this is wrong; I want to hear feedback." And now, you must tell her in everyway possible that speech codes must be lifted and this campus must be free to open thought again. If you do not speak now, the politically correct will assume that you support them and will seize the victory for suppression. And silence will continue to plague this campus. Call Dr. Fagin at 8-7221 and say: "I want to be free." If you will not call for the sake of justice call for the sake of yourself.

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