it sure helps to know that the OSU folks are fighting back! what bothers me is why the OSU administration would choose such a lousy commencement speaker as shrub, giving him a respectable platform when he should be confined to the corral. who wants a mentally and verbally challenged, draft dodging perpetrator of high crimes and misdemeanors, perpetrator of crimes against humanity keynoting at their graduation? did shrub make a donation to the university?
R
----- Original Message ----- From: Yoshie Furuhashi To: sldrty-l at igc.topica.com Cc: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com ; pen-l at galaxy.csuchico.edu Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 12:04 PM Subject: Justin Fights for Free Speech
Protesters' concerns linger after graduation ceremony By Susanne Cervenka and Amanda Wurst
The June 14 commencement address delivered by President Bush stirred young graduates to action, both through volunteerism and political activism.
But controversy has erupted over the university's response to potential protesters and protesters present at the address.
Graduates, and all guests, were asked to respect the president and not to obstruct the view or hearing of others, said Ohio State University spokesman Randy Dunham.
"It's a graduation, a celebration," Dunham said. "We expected there to be some dissent, but we did not expect there to be any disruption or behavior that got out of hand."
"This is not an issue of the First Amendment; no one was told you can't protest," Dunham said.
Only one man, from Marion, Ohio, was arrested for not putting out a cigarette while in the stadium, Dunham said.
Justin Schwartz, a 1998 graduate of the Moritz College of Law, sent a letter to many university officials "about the suppression of free speech and peaceful dissent" of protesters.
"The university officials threatened to use their power to stop constitutional rights," Schwartz said.
"People were terrified to speak out," Schwartz said. "It's not surprising he did not get a lot of opposition."
Gillian Davis from the American Civil Liberties Union said the ACLU is "concerned" and is investigating allegations of First Amendment rights violations of protesters.
"They said if you made a spectacle they would ask you to leave," said Eric Luse, a 2002 graduate present at commencement rehearsal. "If it was bad enough they would keep your diploma."...
<http://thelantern.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=256488> -- Yoshie
* Calendar of Events in Columbus: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html> * Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html> * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>
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