Daily Archives: October 18, 2013

Does Tenure Really Encourage Free Speech? Megan McArdle Tackles Issues in Higher Ed
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Does Tenure Really Encourage Free Speech? Megan McArdle Tackles Issues in Higher Ed - Video

Oct 18 2013

Lobbying reforms will curb fundamental rights to free speech while failing to restore public confidence in the political system, a parliamentary report has warned.

Legislation to impose tighter controls on the industry is also unlikely to increase transparency, according to the House of Lords Constitution Committee.

Peers criticised the Government for trying to push through the proposals with "undue haste", claiming the way it had handled the process was a "matter of significant concern".

Their report warned that the changes could also have " significant consequences" for groups in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Despite applying only to matters dealt with by the Westminster government, local campaigns dealing with crossover issues could be hit, it said.

The new Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trades Union Administration Bill introduces a register of lobbyists and their clients and imposes a limit on the amount organisations other than political parties or candidates can spend on campaigning during parliamentary elections.

A statutory register of lobbyists would also be introduced to identify whose interests were being represented by consultant lobbyists and those who were paid to lobby on behalf of a third party and new requirements on unions to provide accurate membership lists will be introduced.

The Bill was published in July following allegations about the influence of lobbyists on Government decision-making as well as the involvement of peers and MPs with lobbying groups.

Ministers were forced to later make changes to the proposals clarifying rules on third party political spending to make clear that public rallies rather than member-only meetings are to be regulated and spell out that campaigners who respond to policy questions by the media are not captured by the Bill.

But charities still insist the changes will impact on their activities by limiting their spending on campaigning activities in election years.

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Scottish News: Free speech fears over lobby Bill

Fitchburg State University President Robert Antonucci makes a point during a forum on censorship at the Historical Society Wednesday night. Looking on are Sentinel & Enterprise Editor Charles St. Amand and Paula Giaquinto, assistant superintendent of curriculum and grants for the Fitchburg schools. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JOHN LOVE

FITCHBURG -- What happens when free speech is stifled? And do people recognize it when it happens?

Those were the types of questions tackled in a panel discussion on censorship at the Fitchburg Historical Society Wednesday night. The forum showed that understanding of the issue has come a long way in the city.

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of Ray Bradbury's novel, Fahrenheit 451, the Fitchburg Public Library, in conjunction with Fitchburg State University, the Fitchburg Art Museum, Rollstone Studios and the Historical Society, has held related events all month.

They included a community read of the book, a staging of the play and showings of the movie.

Moderator Shirley Wagner shares a laugh at the start of the panel discussion. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JOHN LOVE

Wednesday night's discussion on censorship in books and the media allowed the public to hear first-hand how area professionals tackle censorship.

Questions ranged from what policies the Fitchburg Public Schools and Fitchburg State University have in place regarding censorship, to what the Sentinel & Enterprise considers in its news coverage.

Paula Giaquinto, assistant superintendent of curriculum and grants for the Fitchburg schools, said that in her 14 years in the district, she has never received a complaint from a parent or student about a book that was taught in the schools or censorship in a class.

She said the district has policies that date back to the 1980s that address controversial issues and stress the need for "free and open discussion."

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Speaking out about free speech

Art can be free speech, according to Roger Fonseca from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Free speech is anything that tries to get a message across, Fonseca said. Yes theres free speech, but you can limit it reasonably.

On Tuesday morning, about 80 people gathered in front of HauMNAs mural by the Art Building to protest for their right for free speech and against the development of telescopes on Mauna Kea. Words that were painted on the mural were covered because they did not match the design that was approved to be painted.

Were on a university, Hawaiian cultural practitioner Andre Perez said. Were talking about free speech to express our politics and our cultural values. And that includes protecting our sacred mountain.

HauMNA is a student movement for aloha no ka ina, or love for the land.

FREE SPEECH

The First Amendment protects speech that is controversial, speech that is unpopular, speech that is provocative, speech that is critical, said political science professor Katharina Heyer.

According to Heyer, students at the university have fairly broad freedom of expression rights.

On the other hand, the university also has the right to maintain the proper functioning and order of the university, Heyer said. So they have the right to place limitations on the freedom of expression.

Heyer said the limitations the university places on free speech have to be reasonable and content-neutral. Reasonable includes making sure the acts of free speech are not disrupting the functions of the university. Content-neutral means the university should not be interested in the content of the speaker or the speakers message.

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Students raise their voices for free speech