One would think that a story about tuition being raised or MSU possibly going through a name change would cause an uproar.
Last week, those front page stories were completely disregarded by most.
For some strange reason, the column I wrote about my “Puck Furple” sign being taken away at a basketball game unleashed comments which were a lot more vulgar than my innocent sign.
After almost 1,700 clicks on The Wichitan Online, the meaning of my column has been lost, twisted and distorted.
After almost 50 website comments, I think it’s only fair that I clear the air.
I had no intention of causing a war against anyone, but I am not going to let someone walk over me.
I know my rights and every American should. If you are uneducated on the First Amendment, I suggest you pick up a copy of the Constitution.
There were many people who were upset on what was said in my column.
I made a false statement regarding study hall that offended many athletes and coaches.
I stated that athletes were allowed to skip study hall to attend the basketball game. Actually, athletes didn’t skip study hall.
They attended study hall at an earlier time so they could skip the usual time and attend the required basketball game.
Hope that clears things up.
There were also athletes offended by me stating that they don’t attend any games but their own.
I am actually shocked because most of them don’t. I would love for athletes to prove me wrong. It would be interesting to see if each team got the support the Men’s Basketball team received when they competed against Tarleton State University.
The athletic department should know the column was not about athletes.
The purpose of the column was to expose an administrator who didn’t think twice about infringing on student’s First Amendment rights.
He obviously doesn’t care about what he did or said to me.
Too often those with authority believe they can enforce rules without anyone questioning their actions.
Not everyone with a title is always right.
I’ve been asked by many people if I regret writing my column last week.
No, I don’t. Whether or not people support or hate my column, I’m glad people found something they care about.
Unfortunately, the comments from this article brought to light interesting views from students and student athletes.
The argument of students athletes believing they are busier than “regular” students.
I’m going to assume most athletes don’t feel this way.
Those who do are ignorant to what us “regular” students do.
Trust me athletes, you don’t want to raise a war about how you believe you’re busier then the rest of us.
You think no one attends your games now?
I would think twice before questioning those who do attend your games.
It has been an amazing sight seeing so many people reading The Wichitan this past week.
Maybe this week students will not only take the time to read a controversial column, but articles that really matter.
Wesley Hollingsworth • Feb 24, 2012 at 1:08 AM
So who gets to decide what is offensive and what is not?
PERSONALLY? I find many things offensive that are shown in public, BUT I would fight for the rights of those individuals to keep expressing themselves as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else(and I don’t mean hurt feelings). I’m certain that there are people who come or have come to our games that find the shortness of our cheerleader outfits to be offensive. Or even the uncovered tattoos on our players…
The real issue isn’t that it was or wasn’t offensive really. What should be the standpoint of the school is that it was a school function. You can look at cases like Morse v. Frederick and see where school events have those free speech “exceptions.”
But those exceptions are usually left untouched because it is a slippery slope and where would it stop?
Anonymous • Feb 23, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Exceptions to free speech in the United States are limitations on the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech and expression as recognized by the United States Supreme Court. These exceptions have been created over time, based on certain types of speech and expression, and under different contexts. While freedom of speech in the United States is a constitutional right, these exceptions make that right a somewhat limited one.
Restrictions that are based off communicative impact include both instances of a complete exception, and cases of diminished protection. Speech that involves incitement, false statements of fact, obscenity, child pornography, offensive speech, threats, and speech owned by others are all completely exempt from First Amendment protections. Commercial advertising receives diminished protection but that still means that there is some limit on government intervention.
Along with communicative restrictions, when the government acts as subsidizer or speaker, is an employer, controls education, or regulates the mail, airwaves, legal bar, military, prisons, or immigration, less protection is afforded for uninhibited speech.
Perhaps someone found the sign to be “offensive speech” just like in the Exceptions to the first amendment.
Anonymous • Feb 23, 2012 at 4:51 PM
I am an athlete on campus, and I am an avid reader of The Wichitan. I think that both offer an integral part of campus life.
II was present at the game that night, and I’m present at many other campus events, including other athletic events. Most people wouldn’t know that though because I don’t always wear clothes that identify me as such. In fact, unless you know me personally you wouldn’t know I was an athlete at all. So to say that we are not at other events is entirely unfair. You could no sooner recognize me than I could regonize the 6000 other students on campus.
For many of us that night, it was an honor to be recognized as part of the great athletic program we have at MSU. We were there to be recognized for our achievements on the field and in the classroom. We were not there to take anyone else’s seat or to be inflammatory. We do work hard, and just because we think that doesn’t mean that we think regular students don’t! That’s not the case at all, in fact, we have it lucky because we are able to do what we love each day and receive recognition for it. But, we do put ourselves out there for the university and it is sad that we seem to have been targeted by a few because of this.
As far as the seat sectioning goes, it was just pure logistics that it would be easier to have 150+ athletes sit next to each other in an area close to the exit and close to the court. I’m sure the administration thought they were doing their best to ensure no one’s viewing pleasure was interrupted. Imagine 100 people trying to manuevre their way out of those tiny seats! It wasn’t meant to be an act of favoritism, it was meant to cause the least disruption.
I’m glad this article was written, and I’m glad the student body is talking about the athletic program. I only ask that some people come out to the lesser known sports, this spring. Please try and support the softball program as well as tennis and golf. Oh, and bring whatever sign you’d like!
And for those of you who think we’re unappreciative, we’re not. I’ll say on behalf of women’s athletics that we are grateful to MSU and the student body for their ongoing support.
MSU Football • Feb 28, 2012 at 4:51 PM
+ 1 from the football team. well put.
Brandi Stroud • Feb 22, 2012 at 8:52 PM
Anastasia,
I wanted to say how much I admire you for standing up for yourself and your rights. Too many people would have just brushed off the whole poster thing and never thought twice about speaking up. It may seem like a small matter to some people but the usher and the administration are NOT the law, in fact, they were very much in the wrong when forcing you to give up your poster. Our first amendment rights have been written with an Iron Pen. This is a public college, not a private college. University officials do not possess absolute authority over the students. They especially do not have the right to overturn the constitution when they do not agree or like what we have to say or how we express it.
As for the sectioning of the athletes, I particularly don’t care if they are athletes or not. I just don’t understand the purpose of sectioning. Is it so they feel special? Is it so everyone else knows they are special? Is it so they get a good view of the game? Is it for bonding? What purpose does it have? It just doesn’t seem to have a purpose. That is the only issue I saw with it.
Pretty much all I have to say, good job Anastasia.
Brandi
Eric Halvorsen • Feb 22, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Ms. Reed,
Kudos to you for standing firm in your belief that your First Amendment Rights were being infringed upon by the MSU administration. I’m curious though, why in this posting you refer to the administrator as a he, when in your original op-ed, the target for your point of repression was the female usher who was doing her job.
You inferred from your original description of the events that it was she who was initially responsible for the infringement of your Civil Rights and now it is an administrator you say is a he. If this is the case, you were using probing questions, the four whys, directed at the female usher in an attempt to obtain quotes or direct reference to administrative policy which you believed infringed upon your First Amendment Rights. Good, sound techniques a reporter should use in the development of any newsworthy issue which has the potential to affect the general public, especially the repression of our Freedom of Speech.
Fact in point, that female usher was the third person from the administration, of four, who approached you that night and asked you not to display that sign. You were even given a t-shirt as an alternative to wear in lieu of displaying that sign by a different administrator you chose not to include in your story. You omitted that it was a male usher who ultimately confiscated the sign after your conversation with the female usher.
Four different people all did the same thing, they asked you to refrain from displaying that sign. Did anyone tear that sign from your grasp or did you surrender, abeit not willingly, the sign to them? Was your right to Freedom of Speech taken from you or did you just give it up?
I believe the incident you reported on had more to do about tact than repression of your rights. Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell and make them be happy to be on their way. Puck Furple is a crude dig at TSU, and though they deserve no better, you are.
Perhaps a sign such as “Squash the Grape! I enjoy a little Texan Whine!”, could be a more tactful, and better used epitaph for their demise?
Christopher Carter • Feb 22, 2012 at 9:43 PM
Mr. Halvorsen, everything you said regarding that night is false. I was there and I promise you that your statements are incorrect. Take care.
P.S. Your line about the grape and whine was very funny.
Dustin Webb • Feb 22, 2012 at 8:28 AM
Anastasia,
Have you heard anything from the administration regarding the infringement on your rights, or has everything just been about blasting some incorrect statements?
Dustin
Joshua Scribner • Feb 22, 2012 at 2:20 AM
I’d just like to reiterate what I said last time, and on my blog. I feel as though people way overreacted to something that wasn’t as big a deal as they made it. I think that a lot of those people owe you an apology. And if you did anything wrong it was being too courteous to people that honestly didn’t deserve it.
To me, if you comment and want to debate someone online, if you don’t put your name to it, you are COWARDLY. I don’t mind disagreements, that’s what makes this country great, and certainly someone with an appreciation for the 1st Amendment like yourself would definitely know that. But to be one of these unnamed athletes, or an unnamed alumni, or whatever is COWARDLY. If you have something to say, you should say it, and stand by it.
Brady • Feb 22, 2012 at 1:30 AM
Good job. It’s good to see people who don’t back down from their arguments when people start disagreeing with them. It’s even better when people can admit that they have made a mistake. Anastasia, you did both and for that, I commend you.
And I back her up on her views about student athletes. No one, regardless of how much or little you do on campus, should say they have more on their plate than others. I have two jobs, one full time and one part time. I get off work at MSU and go straight to my other job. I don’t have to do this, but it helps pay my college tuition. I am a Student Ambassador and I am a Peer Counselor. I am also graduating earlier than my original graduation date. Sure, I am doing more because I chose to… But so does everyone. No one HAS to be an athlete in college. This is one of those freedoms Anastasia mentioned.
So please, spare everyone the “I do more than you” debate and accept that we all take on as much as we can handle.