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Show lnion The College Times m Shut up I'm speaking here tence challenge what we believe to be true. According to Bollinger, in the absence Opinions editor of any legal grounds to shut It happens a]] the time; each other up, we as a sociAmericans renouncing the ety will alienate atid marprincipals of free speech just ginalize those who oppose as soon as the light of scru- us by employing any numtiny is cast upon their views. ber of coercive responses It happened in 2004 such as ridicule or humiliwhen Michael Moore was ation or the withholding of invited to speak at UVSC. It practical benefits such as happened again last October employment opportunities. when students at Columbia We all do this every day. University rushed the stage We all have a belief system. when Jim Gilchrist, the co- And for the preservation of founder of the volunteer our beliefs, we rely upon border patrol group *The the principles of the First Minutemen,1 attempted to Amendment. We believe in speak. And then it happened the First Amendment right once more on Columbia's up until someone comes campus last Monday when along and uses those same the president of the Univer- principles to challenge us. sity, Lee Bollinger offered a Then we change our tune. string of dismissive insults Then we call for a customas his introduction to Irani- tailored version of censoran president Mahmoud Ah- ship that is specific to our madinejad, as if to suggest ethos, one that preserves which conclusions the au- free speech for ourselves dience should draw before but not for our opposition. the speech even happened. For some reason noFor the record, it should body's beliefs seem to cast be mentioned that Bol- free speech itself in a cenlinger, who is the former tral role or as a deontic valdean of the University of ue but rather just a means to Michigan's School of Law, an end. To most of us free is one of the most influ- speech is like the gimp charential First Amendment acter from the movie Pulp scholars currently living. Fiction; a minion we keep That being the case, he in a box and only release should have known better. to do our bidding; secure But these incidences are our station in society, but not remarkable or unusual no more. Once finished, it in any way. This stuff hap- goes back in the box where pens all the time through- it remains unmentioned unout all walks of life, and til the next time we need it. it was he. Lee Bollinger, Perhaps one day humanwho recognized and docu- kind will formulate some mented these practices. new version of truth to In his 1986 book titled which all living people can "The Tolerant Society," Bol- subscribe. Until that time it linger insightfully identified seems we will have to accept the many acts of censure people's calls for censorship that we as a society impose as their right to free speech. on those around us whose words or deeds or very exis- MONDAY, OCTOBER 1. 2007 Jena 6: Who's racist, raise your hand Jared Magil Staff Infection If The College Times staff were the cast of a movie or TV show, which show would we be? I would be John Locke on Lost. He's unstoppable. When you think of manly men, you think of him. Just last Monday, Sept. 17, Opinions writer a judge How many of you are threw out other familiar with the Jena the 6 case? Six black, Jena c o n v i c t i o Bell. High School students were against charged with attempted And today, as I murder for beating up a write this, thoufellow white student on sands of protestors from Dec. 4, 2006 in Jena, LA. across the United States You should know the have shown up in Jena, white student was treated LA to support these six for injuries and released young black men. But this the same day. Remember, is not an isolated incident. I should mention the 1 said attempted murder. You should also know case in 2005 of 14-year the cause of the beating in- old'Shaquaifida Cotton, a cident. A tree outside the Paris, Texas girl who was school had been a "white" convicted and sentenced hangout for quite some to 7 years in jail for pushtime. One day in an assem- ing a hall monitor at her bly, a black freshman stu- school. Did I mention dent asked .the principle if Shaquanda is black? In her he could sit under that tree. case, she was actually in Soon after, three nooses jail before public outcry to were hanging in the tree. the governor helped create This sparked increased ra- enough pressure to free her. cial tensions at the school, Lest we think we are culminating with six black beyond such things... students being arrested for But our mainstream methe beating of a white stu- dia rarely carries news dent on school grounds. like this anymore unless You should also know enough people shout loud the boys were being tried enough, and long enough. So what about this racas adults, although they were minors when the ism thing? Are you racist? crime was committed. Did Am I racist? The stunner for I say attempted murder? me was to realize that yes. I The charges were reduced am racist. We arc all racist. to aggravated second- Don't stop reading now; degree battery and con- it's just getting interesting. spiracy to commit aggraWe are all racist because vated battery-both felonies. we have grown up in a culNow Jena, LA is not ture that identifies 'race." Los Angeles. It is a small, Our language, our politics, quiet, sleepy town in our,f socio-economics, and which white students can especially our subcultures allegedly hang nooses in all bear the unmistakable a tree at an "integrated" banner of racism. Let me high school and have the put it this way: the fact that -incident go unpunished. you or I would want to not -^UnraerUioned. Ignored be racist itself indicates that Two weeks ago, a judge racism is part of our culture. The problem then, for threw out the conspiracy charge conviction against me, is not that I am racist, Mychal Bell, saying that but that I might deny it in my a minor could not be tried attempt to stand for equality on conspiracy charges. and justice. We all do and He would not, however, have done this. But in dothrow out the conviction on ing so, we reaffirm the racthe second-degree felony ism we are trying to undo. charge. This carries a maxiInstead, if I own my racmum of 18 years in prison. ism to myself, I automaiCarmell Hoopes-Clark sponsible right now for any unconsciou racist action, thought or belief I might have. I am better able to critically evaluate mfself. On the other hand, if I continue to assert to you that 1 absolutely am not racist. I force myself to be blind to whatever encultured racism I have. I cannot change myself or my views about racism. I cannot create a world where the idea of race is no longer oppressive. If we live in fear of beiniz called racist, we will never move beyond it, either in our thinking or in the wider world. We must stop being afraid and own what exists today on our streets, in our schools creating invisible lines of and businesses, in our very difference, of a difference homes. We must stop feel- that does not exist except in ing apologetic about hor- our cultures. You see, there rendous racist acts like the is no scientific fact of 'race.' attempted murder charges Race is a myth. There is against six young men no race gene. There is only in Jena, LA. or the con- one race: the human race. viction of a 14-year old Puts it all into perspecgirl for pushing an adult. tive, doesn't it. We have been If we feel apologetic perpetuating prejudice and about racism, it is because oppression based on a madewe are comfortable being up concept of difference. racist. If we are tally uncomFinally, I can't help but fortable being racist, we will think to myself about that unbe outraged and take action. named black freshman, who When we are no longer raised his hand and asked if afraid of racism, most ot all he could sit under that tree. in ourselves, we will stop He was another Rosa Parks. I would be Jason Bourne. Nobody can stop that guy. Nobody. I would be Wolverine from X-Men just to show my school pride. I would be Hiro from Heroes, that way I could kill myself and end that lame series! Luke Hickman Letters to the editor Bewitched. Chad Hunt Cheers, but only if I can be Lillith. MelSundquist Separation of church and newspaper Jason Adkins Newsmakers, Aup. 31. Hen; is a man who is world-rcnowncd. has hud persona) visits with ^uch world leaders as Nelson Mandela and either because we were loo'ignorant or perhaps both party's needs, but many are former council mem- didn't think such an event merits coverage, we failed. bers themselves. Kris Coles (student body president). (Crystal Gucmi (club ambassador) :ind Jeff Harbold (club Although The College Times has a done fair job The Mary Tyler Moore Show - you're gonna make it after all. As an example of such influence, look no further than ASUVSC. Nol only does our student go\emmeni often convene with LDSSA's Infinite Council to meet of accurate reporting and only seems to be getting bet- ambassador) have all served within the last two years. ter, it has significantly lacked on accounting for some of the biggest events our student body participates in: religion. More specifically, the lack of coverage given Furthermore, to ensure a working relationship bftwucn [he two. both parties will nflen provide each other benefits In each other's eventv ASUVSC Yes, he was talking religion geared towards the Latter-Day Saints, but most clubs bring in speakers to back their club. Lasl year, the College Republicans brought in Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtkff in defend "One Nation Under God" in the pledge will occasionally provide the religious dub free tick of allegiance. The Law Society Club brought in an FBI agent. The College Times covered both of these. ets to games, hypnotist shows etc., while LDS.SA will often host student government for luncheons. In conclusion, our school newspaper nol only exists to serve us as a weekly news breaker, but to document the right. Some may rightly argue whether the club merits history of this historic college. Years from now when stu- such recognition. For instance, while our Sept. 10 issue dents search The College Times archives, will they accurately reflect our campus and our life? I fear probably not. Waiting FQn$$ffman. \ think Jared would be Parker Pose/s char- The Orem Institute of Religion is the highest attending LDS Institute in the world, making the Latter-Day Saint Student Association acter. the biggest and most influential1 club on campus. Greg Wilcox I think The College Times staff would be the cast of The Office. Ev- to the Orem Institute of Religion and its activities prohibits our newspaper from reaching full credibility. erybody on staff has a unique personality; in a good way, though. Yes, I am Mormon. Yes. 1 attend Institute. And yes this makes me bias and borderline brain- And the newsroom kind of even looks like The Office. washed. . .^jy^n #1 ' Britney Nguyen V *V*>- i\\.- '-Vj.••' ' But, nonetheless, I'm friggen focused on minimal issues such as alternative transportation, they failed to cover Dr. Stephen R. Covey who spoke at the weekly Friday devotional in the institute on -Dave Qillespie Carmell Hoopes-Clark Hmchnrw.,r The Work and the Glory (part 4). . ffifi%i.. . • • • RobertJones Our news staff is like Everybody Loves Raymond, except our show would be called Everybody Loves Jared. Top 20 critics of The College Times Jason Pyles To the editor and staff of I would say we are The Simpsons Movie: a dysfunctional family. We the undersigned arc concerned about the specifically misogynistic theme underlying the Top Ten in the Sept. 10 edition of The College Tunes. The very nature of the list, "Ways to tell your girlfriend is going crazy," exposes sexism in its assumption that only women are,insane-why nol a list' of "Ways to tell your significant other is going crazy?" (We'll refrain from asking the question "Why is on educational institution' publishing these kinds of lists at all?"). Several of the items on the list imply on ontological viewpoint of women that is both offensive and incendiary. Item number ten, for example, says that a woman is *-# is that all women are crazy, but you can date the ones who admit it. Item number one-thai a woman is crazy if she asks a man to marry hcr-indicates that only the man has the right to decide when and The College Times, Spencer Shell Simpsonizeme.com sponsored by Burger King crazy simply if she won't admit to being so. Stated in reverse, the sentiment here «*• where the relationship is going, and any woman who feels otherwise is a lunatic. Above and beyond the ignorance displayed in the other items, and by far the most offensive-of the list, is item number , - f V . • '-'. ~ i. •-" an ignorant cultural mindset. Please do not allow the newspaper ol an academic institution to become Ihe messenger for such offensive altitudes. Matthew A. Jonassaint Shannon Mussen Chandler Walpole S. Todd Young Debbie McCampben Catherine Var Jennifer Paul Signed, Letters to the editor requirements Shannon Israel son Cassic Etldington opi'iilotis@u vsc. edu '• eight, whidi seyi that o woman \s cmzy • mally apologue nol onl\ to Hit1 women of this campus, hut nlso to all thosi; for whom said list has helped entrench i1 if she is on antiitfeprcsMnis. Depression is not the some thing BS.ijfcsanityy.lt.is absolutely inappropriate for a school newspaper to publish such a statement without regard focthfl.rnany people that will be left to interpret Is as a sigh that there is something wrong, with them, not only because they deal'with depression, but because We request that the newspaper for- Andrew hraclson G. Ester Brown • Lcitere must be turned In on Wednesday by Scott Stringham Whitney Nelson Brandon Paul • We make no guarantee that letters will be printed. Julie Match Laura Payne noon in unlcr (• be printed in the next edition. * Lcltrrs J0O words or less have a greater ch-inur nf being published - anything longer will be edited for content. Rachel MifTIin Jonathan Zcmpter • Pleaw provide an electronic copy regardless of whether or noi you wish to submit a hard copy. KelJen Holgaie Jarcd Col ton * All letters become the property of The College Tines as soon as they ore submitted. |