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F--- Bush article ignites student activism

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Contributed by: Mark Gutman on 9/26/2007

One of the best things that could have happened to the students up at Colorado State University (CSU) was the printing of the editorial stating, "Taser this... F--- Bush", in the school's newspaper, The Rocky Mountain Collegian.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian is Colorado State University's student run newspaper completely funded from advertisements. Every day there is a section in the paper called "Our View" where the editorial board of the Collegian prints an editorial of their opinions. This particular editorial was brought on by Andrew Meyer, a student from the University of Florida, being tased during a question and answer session with Senator Kerry. This led Meyer to feel his freedom of speech had been imposed upon, and the editorial staff of the Collegian felt it was time to exercise their rights as well.

In the Friday edition of the newspaper, printed in big bold letters at the top of the opinion page, was "Taser this... F--- Bush". Over the weekend those four words sparked an online war raging between CSU students, CSU alumni, local members of the Fort Collins community, students from other schools, current members of the military, veterans, and many others. The disagreement was whether or not the decision to print the editorial in a school affiliated paper, or in any paper for that matter, was acceptable. In addition, there were conflicting views on what should become of the Collegian staff.

While there were a few posts applauding the article and supporting the staff's decision to publish those four words, most of the online chatter was against the article. These comments included phrases such as "disgusting, immature, a disgrace to the school, an outrage, and a horrible representation of CSU". One response went as far as to say, "The editorial board of the Collegian appears to be a group of uneducated, unenlightened pigs".

In Monday's edition of the paper, thirty-three letters to the editor were published in the opinion section of the Collegian. Of those thirty-three letters, there was one in support of the article and the staff of the Collegian. The rest were made of statements arguing against the editorial, many of which made derogatory references to the Collegian staff.

As a fellow CSU student and former journalist for my high school paper, I feel that it's about time the media exercised their right to free speech. I had previously written an article about ineffective drug searches at Arapahoe High School for the Arapahoe Herald (Arapahoe High School's monthly newspaper), and later published it in YourHub.com. I was then pulled out of class by the principal and was told to never write something criticizing the school without having it read by a "school official."

After this incident, I have always felt the media holds back on using their first amendment rights. Although the Collegian's methods were crude and extreme, they got their point across without violating any rules or laws set fourth by the school or state.

The editorial board of the Collegian had every right to have printed the editorial. Besides from sparking an online war, they did something even better. They got students thinking, discussing, and exercising their own right of free speech, which was the intention in the first place.

In my entire high school and college career, I have never seen so many students getting involved, speaking their mind, and standing up for what they believe in. And never have I seen an editorial spark so much involvement. Many people are criticizing CSU and the students, going so far as to say "College students are the lowest life form on earth" ( Mike Tighe of Dallas, TX). But where else is there such an exchange of thought and discussion? What other school paper has been able to accomplish such a feat? Those four words succeeded in bringing life into the campus and making every student answer the question: Was this OK?

For those who feel the article put a stain on the students, staff, and alumni of Colorado State University, think again of what this article has really done. It has gotten the student body to speak out, to converse, and to truly recognize how they feel concerning freedom of speech and the extent of our civil liberties.

Mark Gutman attends CSU and is a former Arapahoe High School student.

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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments

Submitted By: bubba smith

posted on 9/27/2007 @ 3:20:50 PM

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Mark, I don't mind at all that CSU busted on my boy Bush. Really. But I disagree with you on the thought that McSwane got his point across. He got *attention*, but what, exactly was his point? Was it about tasers? Or f***ing? Or Bush? What was it about? I think this is one of those, "you see what you want to see" things. Pretty cool in that respect, but it's too bad it wasn't a in depth discussion about the whole taser thing, which I think could use some solid, serious discussion.

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Submitted By: jo jojo

posted on 9/26/2007 @ 11:52:45 PM

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Has everyone forgotten what the bush administration has done to our rights? This new paper article is nothing compared to the big finger the bush administration has given the American public.

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