As a journalist, there are few words more important to me than those in the First Amendment. It’s that lovely set of 45 words that keeps people from being persecuted for speaking against the majority, for explaining why they think the way they do or for simply disagreeing with a public official. My favorite week…
STAFF EDITORIAL | Free speech for Westboro
Westboro Baptist Church, established in 1955 by Pastor Fred Phelps, has gained recent publicity due to their members protesting at fallen soldiers’ funerals with signs that read “God hates fags” and “Thank God for dead soldiers.” The case of Westboro Baptist Church protesting at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder has now reached…
STAFF EDITORIAL | Independence, free speech necessary for student organizations
We at the Butler Collegian believe it is the right of all active student organizations to exercise their First Amendment right of free speech and to act as the independent organizations they are. We are outraged that members of the Butler University faculty and staff would take it upon themselves to regulate the planned activities…
Government proposes internet censorship
The U.S. Congress is proposing a bill that could affect free speech on the Internet. The bill, titled Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, could give the government censoring privileges similar to those of governments in China and Iran. “It’s a clear violation of free speech,” Ankur Gupta, assistant professor of computer science at Butler…