Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The Student Sex Column

I always thought that people in the United States, especially academicians, are tolerant to differences in opinions, including on matters related to sex, because Freedom of Speech is protected by the country's constitution.

That’s why I was surprised when I read an article in Legal Blog Watch about Kristen Juras, a Law Professor at the Montana University, who tried to shut down a Sex Column in the university’s students newspaper The Kaimin. As a reason, she said that the column, Bess Sex Column, contain inappropriate material for students and reflects poorly on the university. She said that it affects her reputation as a member of the faculty. However, she said that it is not the column's subject that offended her, rather it is because she thought that the Columnist Bess Davis is not qualified to write about Sex. If it has been written by a Sex Expert she would not have objected.
She tried to persuade the management of the newspaper to terminate the column, but failed. Then she plan to take the matter to higher levels at the university. If that also fail, she would go to the legislature.

Thankfully her views is not shared by others who thinks that the Sex Column is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution regarding Freedom of Speech.

No comments: