by Zhaleh Breen
About you editor
When a brick was thrown through a window of an Illinois public high school, George Fiorini, a newspaper photographer, rushed in with his camera. He wanted to take pictures for the paper, as this was definitely a news-worthy event. When the police asked to see his camera, he assumed that they wanted to use his pictures as evidence.
Unfortunately for him, the principle also felt as if she was entitled to the pictures. She confiscated his camera, and told him that he was not allowed to run the pictures, telling him that because there were students under 18 in the picture, they would run into legal issues. Somebody should have told said principle that students' rights still hold true inside school walls.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Should sex talk be prohibited?
Talia Shifron
To You Editor, Fused
Last fall, a student newspaper in Montana started publishing a sex column in their newspaper. The column focused on student relationships of all different kinds. After this column was published, a law professor named Kristen Juras got upset and said that the newspaper needs to have new standards for hiring processes, and that the person who wrote this column should be fired immediately.
Juras said that she was not opposed to a column being written about specific sexual topics, however she saw this specific column as inappropriate. She feels that since the newspaper is payed for by tax dollars, it needs to be written "for educational purposes only", and that the columnist needs to be an expert in the topic in order to be able to write about it.
However, Juras is completely incorrect in her opinion on this issue. As a student newspaper with freedom of speech, all students have the right to write to express their opinions about any topics that they feel are relevant. In addition to this, sexual relationships are a huge topic among students, and many students are involved in sexual relationships. If anything, this column seems extremely relevant and very important for students to discuss.
To You Editor, Fused
Last fall, a student newspaper in Montana started publishing a sex column in their newspaper. The column focused on student relationships of all different kinds. After this column was published, a law professor named Kristen Juras got upset and said that the newspaper needs to have new standards for hiring processes, and that the person who wrote this column should be fired immediately.
Juras said that she was not opposed to a column being written about specific sexual topics, however she saw this specific column as inappropriate. She feels that since the newspaper is payed for by tax dollars, it needs to be written "for educational purposes only", and that the columnist needs to be an expert in the topic in order to be able to write about it.
However, Juras is completely incorrect in her opinion on this issue. As a student newspaper with freedom of speech, all students have the right to write to express their opinions about any topics that they feel are relevant. In addition to this, sexual relationships are a huge topic among students, and many students are involved in sexual relationships. If anything, this column seems extremely relevant and very important for students to discuss.
Hate speech v. free speech
By Lauren Thiery
To You Editor, Fused
Despite the common assumption that hate groups are obsolete because of recent civil rights advancements, such groups and their derogatory speech are still prevalent in today’s society.
Though membership in hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, White Aryan Resistance (W.A.R.), Neo-Nazis, Black Separatists and Neo-Confederates used to be larger, more acceptable and “admirable,” such groups and their activities are no longer tolerable in mainstream American culture. But contrary to popular belief, these groups are still abundant and functioning throughout the nation. Although hate group membership is not as high as it once was during its peak, it has not drastically decreased.
Though hate speech supporters argue that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment’s freedom of speech clause, it should be noted that there are times when it is not protected. Hate speech directly initiates violence when the purposefully harmful language employed turns into actions of violence; this is neither protected by the First Amendment nor should be argued to be protected by the First Amendment.
For example, in the late 1980s, Tom Metzger, the founder of W.A.R., was charged with inciting the murder of Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian immigrant residing in the United States. Even though Metzger did not directly murder Seraw, he was indirectly responsible for Seraw’s murder; the men who murdered Seraw were members of W.A.R., received W.A.R.’s literature that depicted singling out minorities and killing them, and had allegedly been verbally instructed on how to provoke minorities using hate speech so that a self-defense plea would excuse them from murder charges.
However, this speech led to actions that caused a murder, one among many. This is why Metzger and his hate group were found guilty of indirectly murdering Seraw. Examples such as this emphasize the fact that the First Amendment neither supports nor protects hate speech that causes violence.
To You Editor, Fused
Despite the common assumption that hate groups are obsolete because of recent civil rights advancements, such groups and their derogatory speech are still prevalent in today’s society.
Though membership in hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, White Aryan Resistance (W.A.R.), Neo-Nazis, Black Separatists and Neo-Confederates used to be larger, more acceptable and “admirable,” such groups and their activities are no longer tolerable in mainstream American culture. But contrary to popular belief, these groups are still abundant and functioning throughout the nation. Although hate group membership is not as high as it once was during its peak, it has not drastically decreased.
Though hate speech supporters argue that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment’s freedom of speech clause, it should be noted that there are times when it is not protected. Hate speech directly initiates violence when the purposefully harmful language employed turns into actions of violence; this is neither protected by the First Amendment nor should be argued to be protected by the First Amendment.
For example, in the late 1980s, Tom Metzger, the founder of W.A.R., was charged with inciting the murder of Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian immigrant residing in the United States. Even though Metzger did not directly murder Seraw, he was indirectly responsible for Seraw’s murder; the men who murdered Seraw were members of W.A.R., received W.A.R.’s literature that depicted singling out minorities and killing them, and had allegedly been verbally instructed on how to provoke minorities using hate speech so that a self-defense plea would excuse them from murder charges.
However, this speech led to actions that caused a murder, one among many. This is why Metzger and his hate group were found guilty of indirectly murdering Seraw. Examples such as this emphasize the fact that the First Amendment neither supports nor protects hate speech that causes violence.
Monday, March 9, 2009
2009 First Amendment Symposium
Hannah Nixon
Blog for March 13 Issue
Held in the Indiana State House on March 3rd, 2009, the First Amendment Symposium was crowded with dedicated high school journalists from all over Indiana. Joined by Bloomington High School North Principal Jeffry Henderson, he spoke about the freedom he offers to his media department at North. Governor Daniels spoke of the vitality of keeping newspapers alive, and Marybeth Tinker, a hero in the world of journalism, spoke of her great success with Freedom of Speech. Governor Daniels said, “The one chance we’ve got, I believe is in the newspapers in this state. This is an element of democracy we must not lose.”
Apart from these figures of authority, there were several high school students who spoke on topics imperative to the First Amendment. One spoke of integrity, one of truth, one of courage, and one of freedom. As each student spoke, their belief in the First Amendment rang in their words. One student in particular rang with plain noise. She began with sharing her first encounter with speaking her mind, something involving a lion and a storybook in first grade. She ended on a more serious example, and yet throughout the entirety of her speech she neglected to refer to the actual topic she was assigned: freedom. Her purpose in the end was to emphasize the importance of respecting all peoples’ views- whether in agreement with them or not. Because of the words spoken by this student on March 3, but more so because of the First Amendment, I am able to say that I believe she delivered a disastrous speech. Between unnecessary pauses, repeated uses of the word “like,” and rolling her eyes, she delivered a speech that wasn’t associated with freedom at all but rather with respect. Despite this small depression of the ceremony, the First Amendment Symposium was an overall success. The message of belief was illustrated through several winning essays, and the character trait of leadership was demonstrated by High School Journalist of the Year Aliya Mood.
The same week of the 2009 First Amendment Symposium the Rocky Mountain Newspaper died in Colorado after 150 years. Governor Daniels addressed this and stated his opinion saying, “The danger to democracy- that is the danger in American Journalism. Newspaper has been an effect of life, still is as far as I’m concerned.” Although Newspapers throughout the United States are failing, there is no less truth and no less vitality in the First Amendment. It lives on, and it is the work of journalists all through America that are keeping the dream alive.
Blog for March 13 Issue
Held in the Indiana State House on March 3rd, 2009, the First Amendment Symposium was crowded with dedicated high school journalists from all over Indiana. Joined by Bloomington High School North Principal Jeffry Henderson, he spoke about the freedom he offers to his media department at North. Governor Daniels spoke of the vitality of keeping newspapers alive, and Marybeth Tinker, a hero in the world of journalism, spoke of her great success with Freedom of Speech. Governor Daniels said, “The one chance we’ve got, I believe is in the newspapers in this state. This is an element of democracy we must not lose.”
Apart from these figures of authority, there were several high school students who spoke on topics imperative to the First Amendment. One spoke of integrity, one of truth, one of courage, and one of freedom. As each student spoke, their belief in the First Amendment rang in their words. One student in particular rang with plain noise. She began with sharing her first encounter with speaking her mind, something involving a lion and a storybook in first grade. She ended on a more serious example, and yet throughout the entirety of her speech she neglected to refer to the actual topic she was assigned: freedom. Her purpose in the end was to emphasize the importance of respecting all peoples’ views- whether in agreement with them or not. Because of the words spoken by this student on March 3, but more so because of the First Amendment, I am able to say that I believe she delivered a disastrous speech. Between unnecessary pauses, repeated uses of the word “like,” and rolling her eyes, she delivered a speech that wasn’t associated with freedom at all but rather with respect. Despite this small depression of the ceremony, the First Amendment Symposium was an overall success. The message of belief was illustrated through several winning essays, and the character trait of leadership was demonstrated by High School Journalist of the Year Aliya Mood.
The same week of the 2009 First Amendment Symposium the Rocky Mountain Newspaper died in Colorado after 150 years. Governor Daniels addressed this and stated his opinion saying, “The danger to democracy- that is the danger in American Journalism. Newspaper has been an effect of life, still is as far as I’m concerned.” Although Newspapers throughout the United States are failing, there is no less truth and no less vitality in the First Amendment. It lives on, and it is the work of journalists all through America that are keeping the dream alive.
Mary Beth Tinker speaks, inspires at First Amendment Symposium
Ariel Boehnlein
For You Editor
The third annual First Amendment Symposium was held at the Indianapolis Court House on Tuesday, March 3. The symposium was started three years ago by the Indiana High School Press Association (IHSPA) as a way to bring schools together to celebrate the First Amendment.
This year's guest speaker was Mary Beth Tinker, famous for her participation in the Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines . Set in Iowa, 1969, Tinker and her younger siblings wore black arm bands to school in an attempt to mourn those lost in and protest the Vietnam War. The students were suspended and, after the case was taken to the Supreme Court, were cleared due to the fact that their punishment demonstrated a heavy restriction on their First Amendment right to protest.
Forty years later, Tinker was welcomed warmly by fans and admirers at the State House. Tinker spoke on issues surrounding the First Amendment that existed in the past and are still relevant today, such as prior review and speech limitations in school. She discussed that, while unfair, some limitations cannot be lifted.
So, as they remembered the past, students celebrated the present. As Tinker spoke, shook hands and took photos, she reminded students how important it is to stand up for their rights, even when it seems the hardest.
For You Editor
The third annual First Amendment Symposium was held at the Indianapolis Court House on Tuesday, March 3. The symposium was started three years ago by the Indiana High School Press Association (IHSPA) as a way to bring schools together to celebrate the First Amendment.
This year's guest speaker was Mary Beth Tinker, famous for her participation in the Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines . Set in Iowa, 1969, Tinker and her younger siblings wore black arm bands to school in an attempt to mourn those lost in and protest the Vietnam War. The students were suspended and, after the case was taken to the Supreme Court, were cleared due to the fact that their punishment demonstrated a heavy restriction on their First Amendment right to protest.
Forty years later, Tinker was welcomed warmly by fans and admirers at the State House. Tinker spoke on issues surrounding the First Amendment that existed in the past and are still relevant today, such as prior review and speech limitations in school. She discussed that, while unfair, some limitations cannot be lifted.
So, as they remembered the past, students celebrated the present. As Tinker spoke, shook hands and took photos, she reminded students how important it is to stand up for their rights, even when it seems the hardest.
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