Damaging Words

For the past couple weeks, we have been discussing the First Amendment during class. One action the amendment permits is freedom of speech, which goes along perfectly with an article I overcame today in The Minnesota Daily. Written in Madison, Wisconsin, the article “Teacher’s arrest raises free speech issues” addresses one teacher, James Buss, and his opinion of teacher’s salaries. Buss expressed his unruly thoughts on an internet blog site, explaining that ‘teacher salaries made him sick because they are lazy and work only five hours a day. ’ Additionally, the comment that truly displayed his lack of consideration was when he praised the Columbine High School gunmen who killed 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves by saying, “they knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time!” He also explained that the two gunmen should be remembered as heroes. These comments stirred much criticism and dismay, and police took Buss into custody at the Washington County Jail. Now, the Washington County District is attempting to charge Buss with disorderly conduct and unlawful use of computerized communication systems. The question of whether the case will go through is still in the air. According to the First Amendment, Buss has the right to state any opinion he has. Yet, in my opinion, I believe he should be charged in some way or another. As a teacher, Buss should be supporting his co-workers instead of bash them, for everyone’s sake. Not only is it irresponsible for him to be degrading other teachers but it is also unethical for him to be supporting two gunmen who murdered 13 people. Students look up to teachers and his words have caused much damage to his community. Although freedom of speech should continue to be praised and supported, it is quite difficult to do that when someone is verbally backing up one of the most horrible events that has occurred in the United States within the past decade. His words could stem violence; some troubled students may find them encouraging. This is definitely a time when someone should have told him to think before he spoke. The First Amendment should not let this type of situation slide right on by. People need to realize how badly words can affect others.

Interested in more issues raised by the First Amendment? Click the link below!
http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/iclp/freespch.htm

High Five?

The Minnesota Daily article “Sexual-health surveys clash” by Andy Mannix and Betsy Graca caught my attention on Thursday November 29th. The article was based on the new survey conducted by Trojan condoms. The survey indicated that out of 139 colleges, the University of Minnesota placed first place safe sexual health performances. From an outside perspective, this may seem to be a compliment to the University, yet the article continues to enlighten us on how the survey results were not completely accurate. Because they were unable to obtain a lot of information from many of the schools, Trojan condoms focused on each school’s health services, contraception availability, and awareness, instead of more important statistics such as STI rates and sexual health knowledge on campuses when conducting the survey. It is here that one may see the problem. Just because a school has good health services and is fortunate enough to have many students willing to inform others on sexual health and disease education, doesn’t mean the campus is actually the healthiest when it comes to sex. Although the U of M does have great services, many students do not actually follow the safest practices when it comes to sex. As a member of the SHADE, I have found it difficult to reach out to many students on the importance of safe sex. With the article backing me up, only 60 percent of students use condoms when having sex. That leaves us with 40 percent of students not having safe sex! Additionally, as aware as Trojan condoms makes the University seem, it is critical to consider that from a Boynton Health Survey taken last year, a frightening 12.6 percent of students believe that withdrawal is a safe method of birth control. Maybe Trojan condoms should stop focusing on the mere 60 percent of University sexually-safe students and instead focus on the 40 percent that are now prone to Sexually Transmitted Infections and pregnancy. Although the University is trying to reach out to students on the importance of safe sex, it still has a long way to go.


To find out more about sexual health services at the U of M, address the link below:
http://www.bhs.umn.edu/shade/