A bare breast and a discussion of oral sex so offended Arizona
state legislators that they have proposed to strip all student
newspapers in the state of government funding. Such a move would
not only be a gross overreaction, but a terrible violation of free
speech and academic exploration.
The controversy flared up earlier this year when Arizona State
University’s State Press Magazine printed a large photo of a
nude, pierced nipple. The photo ran along with a story on creative
piercings among college students.
At the time, ASU President Michael Crow directed an ultimatum at
the paper’s staff: Any additional offensive photos or stories
would result in the university yanking all support and kicking the
paper off campus.
Crow’s threats came after influential donor Ira Fulton
contacted Crow and voiced concerns about the photo.
Lawmakers also cited an older but similar story as cause for
their concern. The offense? Northern Arizona University’s The
Lumberjack published a column on how to perform oral sex.
Now, House legislators, led by Rep. Russell Pearce, have
proposed a clause which would allow for “no state funding for
university student newspapers.”
Such a targeted removal of funding is tantamount to government
censorship and may in fact be a violation of the First
Amendment.
At the very least, it is a gross violation of the spirit of
academic freedom. Students and professors must now ask themselves
where Arizona legislators draw the line.
Student groups and professors constantly stage demonstrations or
make comments some find offensive. It would be preposterous for the
state legislature to cut off funding from any academic endeavor
based on a difference of opinion.
Ironically, even ASU President Crow does not approve of what the
Legislature has proposed. According to the Associated Press, ASU
Assistant Vice President for public relations Terri Shafer said the
university hopes legislators “can work something else
out.”
She added that the university administration had
“encouraged the State Press to adopt an editorial policy that
adheres to high journalistic standards and would have prevented
this thing from happening.”
It is heartening that the ASU administration does not want to
kick the paper off campus. But it is disturbing that it still does
not get the point of having a free and creative press ““
especially at the college level and at a public university.
The administration should not have any role in the editorial
decision-making of a university paper. Here at UCLA, advertising
revenues fully support student media and all editorial decisions
are made by students. The Bruin adheres to basic codes of conduct,
stated everyday just below this editorial, and to standards set by
the Society of Professional Journalists.
Arizona’s leaders should realize there is a reason why the
U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech to the people and the
press. Having a free and active press is much more important than
ensuring no one is offended.