Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

What responsiblity is attached to free speech?

http://tinyurl.com/yoscch

As always, serious responses requested.

The editor at The Rocky Mountain Collegian, at Colorado State posted a four word editorial (Editorial not posted here for a better chance f getting through Yahoo screeners) Granted, it is protected speech. However the paper relies on advertising to run and since the incident has lost $30,000 in revenue. Other student workers have had to take a 10% pay cut to keep the paper afloat.

My question is: While David McSwane will of course catch the brunt of the backlash from his four word exercise of his first amendment rights (He may be fired from the publication), other students who didn't utter the words or for that matter have veto power over them are being punished financially for his statement. Does David McSwane have a responsibility to those students who are suffering for his actions?

1 Answer

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Wow, this is an excellent question, one that really has me thinking.

    Yes, he has a responsibility (not a financial one but a moral one) because of his position. Based on the article, it looks like he is a student. A faculty member normally signs off on school papers prior to release. If he is a faculty member and not a student, then it is even larger.

    I do believe he should resign.

    After reading the editorial I agree what some of the students said. What was he saying? Pres Bush had nothing to do with the student being tasered, so what was his point? As an editor he has the ability to write opinion pieces, but if he wants people to listen, he should write items with facts to back his opinion.

    I believe he failed to live up to his responsibilities to the paper, the student body, and his fellow student workers. I just hope he learns something from his actions. Do not hurt your employer. If he wanted to publish a flyer saying this and pass it out, fine, that is him using free speech. Him using his school sponsored paper is abuse of power.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.