2008 Woodie Awards
Reader's Forum
Student feels unsafe on Drew's campus at night as a result of Rossi's comedy routine in Mr. Drew pageant
Heather Sudol
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Opinion
To the Editor,
The University, like any other educational institution, cannot ever grant its students absolute freedom of speech.
Even off campus, freedom of speech is never absolute. We are free to speak our minds, but only as long as our speech does not infringe upon the rights of others. In order for discourse to be respectful and dynamic, exceptions to freedom of speech must exist.
Exceptions to freedom of speech exist where we transgress others' freedoms, such as perjury or speaking out of turn in court. Our rights end where others' rights begin-educational institutions support this idea because they need to be maintained as a safe space.
A safe space is a place where people, including minorities, are able to convey experiences and ideas without fear of invalidation or violence.
A human rights complaint serves as a notice that the offender is not maintaining safe space, and the filing of such a complaint is an act of free speech.
It is not hypocritical to criticize a person's speech when it is offensive because part of maintaining safe space is to let others know when they violate it, intentionally or unintentionally, and to educate them on how they can return to being supportive of a safe space.
Jim Rossi is guilty of infringing on the safe space the University strives to maintain for all students, including victims of rape and sexual assault. To those who would now still defend his freedom of speech, I ask if one individual's right to freedom of speech is ever more important than the right of every student to feel safe on campus.
Until Jim Rossi's performance at Mr. Drew, I had felt safe walking across campus by myself at night. Before, I did not need to ask others to walk with me back to my residence hall. Because of statements like Jim Rossi's, I no longer feel safe walking the paths of Drew University at night for fear of exactly how many others share his sentiment that sexual assault is not a problem on campus.
I cannot articulate my exact feelings as I now walk across campus alone at night. I watch my surroundings and listen as closely as my poor hearing and sight allow. I have only ever had nightmares in which others have assaulted and raped me-but if it happens in the real world, I will never be able to awaken, safe in my bed, and be thankful that it was only a dream.
The University, like any other educational institution, cannot ever grant its students absolute freedom of speech.
Even off campus, freedom of speech is never absolute. We are free to speak our minds, but only as long as our speech does not infringe upon the rights of others. In order for discourse to be respectful and dynamic, exceptions to freedom of speech must exist.
Exceptions to freedom of speech exist where we transgress others' freedoms, such as perjury or speaking out of turn in court. Our rights end where others' rights begin-educational institutions support this idea because they need to be maintained as a safe space.
A safe space is a place where people, including minorities, are able to convey experiences and ideas without fear of invalidation or violence.
A human rights complaint serves as a notice that the offender is not maintaining safe space, and the filing of such a complaint is an act of free speech.
It is not hypocritical to criticize a person's speech when it is offensive because part of maintaining safe space is to let others know when they violate it, intentionally or unintentionally, and to educate them on how they can return to being supportive of a safe space.
Jim Rossi is guilty of infringing on the safe space the University strives to maintain for all students, including victims of rape and sexual assault. To those who would now still defend his freedom of speech, I ask if one individual's right to freedom of speech is ever more important than the right of every student to feel safe on campus.
Until Jim Rossi's performance at Mr. Drew, I had felt safe walking across campus by myself at night. Before, I did not need to ask others to walk with me back to my residence hall. Because of statements like Jim Rossi's, I no longer feel safe walking the paths of Drew University at night for fear of exactly how many others share his sentiment that sexual assault is not a problem on campus.
I cannot articulate my exact feelings as I now walk across campus alone at night. I watch my surroundings and listen as closely as my poor hearing and sight allow. I have only ever had nightmares in which others have assaulted and raped me-but if it happens in the real world, I will never be able to awaken, safe in my bed, and be thankful that it was only a dream.
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