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Show The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Friday, November 2 , 2002 Talkof Banon Offensive Speech at Harvard Law Stirs Debate. Policy would not infringe on rights, student group says BYJENNIFER PETER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — Harvard Law Schoolis considering a ban on offensive speech after a series of racially charged incidents, raisingfears that the rules will inhibit the kind of sharp-edged intellectual combat so fa mously depicted in the movie “The Paper Chase.” In the meantime, the school is also offering first-year stu- that it should be considered at a behavior,” said Joshua Blood. an escalating series of race- dents a new course to help them “manage difficult conversations” and learn how to law school, any lawschool, because one thing that law worth, a third-year student and president of the organization. “We're not trying to stop free speech.” The Committee on Healthy Diversity madeup ofsix faculty members, six students and related controversies over the speak with sensitivity on touchy issues such as race and gender. The speech-code proposal hasstirred an intense internal debate about the commitment schools do is study the Constitution and these codes are clearly in violation of the First Amendment,” said Harvey Silverglate, a Harvard Law graduate andcivillibertieslitigator. to freedom of expression at a Members of the Black Law Students Association, which school whose illustrious alumnihave helped define the called for the policy, sayit is possible to curb chronically of- rights. fensive behavior without in- Someare wondering whether a campus renowned forits bareknuckled, confrontational fringing on the First Amendment. “We'vecalled for a discriminatory harassment policy style of teaching is getting a little touchy-feely. “WhatI do find amazing is at least give the administration some way to reviewharassing nation’s free speech that would basically punish or three law schoolstaff members — will makeits recommenda past year, triggered by a stu dent's use of the slur “nig” in a course outline posted online. tributed nothing to tort law.” (That professor, David Rosen. to one of his protesting peers, saying that “if you, as a race, want to prove that you do not to a body of legal thought known as critical race theory.) deserve to be called by that word, work hard andyouwill the full faculty. There are about 1,800 stu dents at Harvard Law, about 28 berecognized.” of whom are minorities. Law school Dean Robert Clark created the committee this past spring in the wake of inclass that “feminism, Marx ism and the blacks have con- During the ensuing uproar, a second studentsentan e-mail tions in the spring. Any code would be subject to approval by percent Association also asked for a} reprimand of another professor, who was quoted as saying That, in turn,led a professor to step down from teaching the class,a first-year course on tort law, and offer to defend the emailer in a mock trial. The mocktrial was never held. The Black Law Students berg, has said he wasreferring This past week, several dents andprofessors express discomfort with the idea of a speech code. Law school spokesman MikeArmini characterized the speech-code discussions as preliminary. It is not clear yet whetherthe speech code would applyjust in the classroom, or outsideit, too. USE YOUR EXTRA 15% OFF ENTIRE PURCHASE SHOPPING PASS LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON BIGGEST SALE ALL CLAYBROOKE FLANNEL SPORTSH WRTS Curr.17.99 orig. $30 S-XXL FAMOUS MAKER DRESS SHIRT & TIESOrig. $30-$45. Claybrooke, Van Heusen. Geoffrey Beene, Perry Ellis, Reaction, Nautica. SALE34.99 Le lassi) SHOPPING PASS JONES NY LEATHER BLAZER SALE 219.99 orig. $450 EXTRA 33-40"% OF CLEARANCE DESIGNER SPORTSWEAR, DENIM, URBAN & GUYS 8-20 COLLECTIONS TOTAL SAVINGS 50-60% 0% FINANCE CHARGE AND NO PAYMENT UNTIL MARCH,‘50 MINIMUM PURCHASE™ ‘Todny & Saturday Downtown Portiand GAMTPM. “WO DISCOUNT onLov's” oF Dockers” 10% DISCOUNT on Men's Sutts, Sportcosts, DressStacks Regular and ¥ " om tise re sia Sale prices in upcoming sales eventsthis season gua presen oc at wast SDbe bre Org osoa cane wearer aresitbor cer.Sam redone tananmearioume eenmarownstoynotion ray tave besn tieter hen, Hour sary S Do: avtableonyour Wier Frank, change witno france charge during Me: deter’ per: Nari$50) vem G chase See Sales Associate for detalts APR 27.6%, 50 Kontanis’change CHARGEIT WITH MEIER & FRANK WE ALSO WELCOME VISA MASTERCARD AND DISCOVER MEIER & FRANK All the right choices ORDER ANYTIME CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-633-1224 |