Quote:I'm sure that you are referring to me with your comment.  If so, then you are wrong.  What I am defending and why I started this thread (among other reasons) has nothing to do with rape.  That's just how the thread turned because some are "offended" by what was on the banners.

 

The bottom line is, these frat boys are being punished for exorcising their First Amendment Right and it's all due to political correctness.

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So explain to me why this fraternity is being reprimanded by the university that they attend.  Did they break any laws?  Did they harm anyone?

Quote:So if someone is exercising their freedom of speech or freedom of expression and you don't agree with it, should they be shut down?  Who makes the determination that it is in poor taste or looks bad on the university?

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A couple of points:

 

1. The First Amendment does not apply to "speech that incites violence or encourages the audience to commit illegal or dangerous acts.". This is interpolated from Weirum v. RKO General, Inc. (link) and a criminal case surrounding chatroom conduct (link).

 

2. Whether you agree with it or not, the First Amendment becomes tenuous once you affiliate with an educational institution. Even at public institutions, the college president has veto power over articles, can force you to run retractions, can forcibly remove people from the school paper and TV station for what they print, etc. This includes off-campus fraternities and sororities.

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