Staff Editorial: In defense of free speech

It is disturbing whenever a member of the Penn community spews despicable hate speech, particularly when such speech is aimed at a group with a presence on campus.

The victims of such hateful words have every right and reason to be upset, but, difficult as it may be to accept, hate speech, however odious, ought to be protected.

Linguistics graduate student Stephanie Winters' recent newsgroup postings are no more than blind, disgusting examples of ignorant hatred. Certainly, she should not be commended for her words, but neither should she be formally punished by the University for them.

First Amendment or no First Amendment, limitations on free speech are never a wise or effective way of combatting racism, hatred and prejudice. In the academic realm in particular, freedom to express ideas and opinions is fundamental to the undertaking of a university and vital for the success of its endeavor.

This argument is not entirely theoretical. The University of Pennsylvania learned the hard way that speech codes and limits on free expression are a disaster.

At the height of the political correctness revolution in 1993, the University attempted to punish a student for violating Penn's policy on racial harrassment. The now-infamous "water buffalo" incident made Penn a nationwide laughing stock and a symbol of PC gone terribly wrong.

Students calling for Winters' dismissal from her teaching assistantship claim that their intent is not to seek a limitation on free speech or any kind of speech code, but punishing Winters for comments made independent of her work as a TA is, in effect, enacting a de facto speech code.

The last thing the University wants to do is relive 1993 and its aftermath. We commend University President Judith Rodin's support of free speech and urge her and her administration to remain steadfast in that support to avoid another disastrous attempt at its limitation.

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