« Interesting Factoids About Our Hands | Main | VERDICT MONDAY »
October 21, 2007
Free speech, hate speech, and UCI
by Chuck Devore
For the past few years I have been carefully noting the frequency with which hate speakers used the University of California, Irvine to stir up their venom. A typical visit would feature a speaker calling for death to America and the destruction of Israel. Recording the speech in any way would be prohibited, if the sponsoring group, such as the Muslim Student Union (MS), demanded so. This no-record policy was backed up by university officials.
I decided to test this no-record policy myself at an MSU meeting last May. As the speaker began, I took out a video recorder and started to record. I was told to cease recording by the MSU student leader.
I responded, "Under whose authority?"
He replied, "We will talk about it later outside."
I replied, "Good, then I will keep recording!"
At that point, the event went on and I remained in my seat recording.
This incident prompted me to contact UCI Chancellor Michael Drake to urge him to change UC's policy to be like that of UC Riverside's, a campus that does allow recording of events. Chancellor Drake agreed to review this policy.
Well, I am very pleased to report that the no-record policy is no more. The students, faculty, and the media now have greater protection for their First Amendment rights (press rights). While people wanting to engage in hate speech will perhaps be less likely to do so knowing that anyone may freely record their words so as to hold them, and their sponsors, accountable for their words.
Posted by Post Scripts at October 21, 2007 11:45 AM