Posted by
C-Hayes on Monday, May 14, 2007 10:07:50 AM
Does free speech include the right to criticize Islam? Most people would probably say "yes."
Tufts University says "no."
Syndicated columnist Ben Shapiro, who often covers politics on college campuses, highlights a "show trial" closed to the press to demonstrate the utter hypocrisy of colleges and universities around the nation which proclaim tolerance and diversity, yet continually bend to a politically correct agenda.
Here's the crux of the issue between The Source, the only conservative voice on campus, and the Musllim Student Association (MSA):
"In the April 11, 2007, issue, The Source printed a page entitled "Islam: Arabic Translation: Submission." The page carried quotes from the Koran juxtaposed with facts about certain adherents of Islam -- their involvement with terrorism, discrimination against women, and the slave trade, among others."
The MSA cried that the piece was a "deliberate psychological attack," which is against the college's harassment policy. The Source argued it was participating in "free and open discussion of ideas and opinions," which is protected under the student handbook.
Guess who won.
A press release from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) details it all:
"Showing profound disregard for free speech and freedom of the press, Tufts University has found a conservative student publication guilty of harassment and creating a hostile environment for publishing political satire. Despite explicitly promising to protect controversial and offensive expression in its policies, the Tufts Committee on Student Life decided yesterday to punish the student publication The Primary Source (TPS) for printing two articles that offended African-American and Muslim students on campus...."
And...
"The Committee also held that the parody of Islamic Awareness Week 'targeted members of the Tufts Muslim community for harassment and embarrassment, and that Muslim students felt psychologically intimidated by the piece....' "
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if, as Shapiro says, that "intimidation" constitutes "harassment" under the Tufts' student handbook, isn't Tufts' Committee for Student Life engaging in exactly the sort of behavior it's supposedly condemning? Since when does silencing your opposition through "show-trials" not constitue intimidation?
Michelle Malkin also picked up the story and has more coverage here.
Here is how the chair of the Student Commmittee, drama professor Barbara Grossman, explained the decision to silence The Source:
"'The Primary Source can continue to print what it chooses, but it should not have the shelter of anonymity from which to launch hurtful attacks,' she said in a written statement."
Based on the recommendation from the committe, however, it appears that The Source, if it continues to engage in "attacks" of this kind, will at least have funding cut off, and may cease to be as an organization:
"We ask that student governance consider the behavior of student groups in future decisions concerning recognition and funding."
To see what The Source truly stands for, visit their website here.