Student’s political T-shirt raises First Amendment questions
Editor:
The other week in my science class my first amendment right for the freedom of speech was rudely violated by one of GC&SU’s own science professors. I was wearing a t-shirt that had a picture of Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. on the front. Underneath the two faces were the words “Dumb and Dumber.” My professor obviously did not like the shirt, and in front of about 20 of my peers, he asked me to change. I understand that the shirt may offend some people on this campus, but this IS a public liberal arts university where the freedom to express one’s own opinion is cherished. I was shocked, humiliated, and infuriated, and against my better judgment, I changed my shirt. My professor claims that it was offensive. He also told me that my shirt should not even be allowed on this campus. He abused his seniority over me and overstepped his boundaries. I later learned that a professor can only ask a student to change if the garment contains racism, profanity, and/or nudity. My shirt had none of that. It was a mere political joke, so why was my first amendment violated? Why was I not allowed to wear a political cartoon? I write this not to complain, but to inform others of what happened to me. Should we students be afraid to voice our opinions here on campus? I hope not. Where is the world going when, of all places, a student cannot voice his or her own opinion on a college campus?
Sincerely,
Katherine Ouellette
Freshman
Biology Major
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Dec 3 2004. Filed under Opinion.
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