Response to Carol

As a member of PAC [Pan Asian Council], we actively engage in discussing community issues, especially ones such as the carol published in "The Primary Source". We spent almost the entirety of a one-hour meeting debating whether freedom of speech has been violated. Freedom of speech means just that: you're allowed to say whatever you want without fear of punishment. When does this line get crossed? Is the environment different on college campuses?

The conclusion we reached was: yes. I'm not sure exactly what the laws and rules are [someone mentioned them briefly], but they are something to the effect that any racially discriminating remarks are subject to penalty. This reminds me very much of the first day of class, when we were discussing whether Adidas should be penalized for marketing the "Yellow Series". Should we be allowed, in this capitalistic society, to deny them the right to sell that line? It's a frustrating debate, one that seemingly never reaches a comforting conclusion.

With respect to the carol, I do believe that it should not have been published, for the sole reason that it is offensive, rude, and non-conducive to creating a comfortable university environment. I also believe, however, that they had the right to publish it. So, in the end, I guess I have to agree with what Mitch Robinson said in the campus media: "Freedom of speech should be used with respect" http://insidehighered.com/news/2006/12/12/tufts. Our university is based on the principle of respect, for each other, for a comfortoable environment, for the ability to learn and give back. I guess we all trusted that no one would have posted such a poem in the first place.