2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsNietzel responds to student protest
Robin Hoover
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Last Friday's protest on the Bear Paw over the First Amendment right to free speech has initiated a comment from President Mike Nietzel.
The protests were in response to an incident that happened Oct. 5 at the same spot, where a band used the F-word during their performance.
A safety and transportation officer told a student that bands could not use profanity during the remainder of the show, because of the Expressive Activities Policy.
More than 40 students showed up to protest, many holding signs that said the F-word.
Nietzel said in an e-mail interview that Greenwood's location is apparent to everyone and because it is an elementary school it should be taken into account of what goes on in front of it.
"That recognition should result in people being sensitive to how their behavior will influence and be perceived by very young children," Nietzel said.
The campus safety officers did not respond to the protest because it was different from the show that took place Oct. 5 that the campus officer originally responded to, Nietzel said.
"I understand that in the earlier incident the campus officer responded to a complaint that the amplification of vulgar language was resulting in it being heard widely, including at Greenwood. I don't know if there was amplification involved on Friday. I don't believe there were any complaints lodged with an official about Friday."
Nietzel said, in the future, he hopes the students' education at Missouri State University will give them a better way to get their messages across.
"The protection and exercise of free speech is an important principle, which sometimes is expressed in distasteful ways," Nietzel said. "I hope that across their educational experiences at Missouri State, the students involved in Friday's activity will learn more nuanced and ultimately more effective ways to express themselves."
The protests were in response to an incident that happened Oct. 5 at the same spot, where a band used the F-word during their performance.
A safety and transportation officer told a student that bands could not use profanity during the remainder of the show, because of the Expressive Activities Policy.
More than 40 students showed up to protest, many holding signs that said the F-word.
Nietzel said in an e-mail interview that Greenwood's location is apparent to everyone and because it is an elementary school it should be taken into account of what goes on in front of it.
"That recognition should result in people being sensitive to how their behavior will influence and be perceived by very young children," Nietzel said.
The campus safety officers did not respond to the protest because it was different from the show that took place Oct. 5 that the campus officer originally responded to, Nietzel said.
"I understand that in the earlier incident the campus officer responded to a complaint that the amplification of vulgar language was resulting in it being heard widely, including at Greenwood. I don't know if there was amplification involved on Friday. I don't believe there were any complaints lodged with an official about Friday."
Nietzel said, in the future, he hopes the students' education at Missouri State University will give them a better way to get their messages across.
"The protection and exercise of free speech is an important principle, which sometimes is expressed in distasteful ways," Nietzel said. "I hope that across their educational experiences at Missouri State, the students involved in Friday's activity will learn more nuanced and ultimately more effective ways to express themselves."
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
JT Eberhard
posted 11/05/07 @ 2:05 PM CST
As a disclaimer, I am about to utilize my freedom of speech to criticize statements made by the President of this university. It should be noted ahead of time that I approve of President Nietzel in virtually everything he has done as President of Missouri State, and the fact that I disagree with him here does not undo that. (Continued…)
K Sweet
Kevin Sweet
posted 11/05/07 @ 3:52 PM CST
I can just see MSU's leaders sitting around having a talk after they've just finished reading Catch-22.
"Apparently we need to have a free speech zone. (Continued…)
Josh Morrison
posted 11/06/07 @ 12:47 PM CST
I've been following this ongoing situation from Indiana (so much as I can given the distance and my other obligations). It seems to me that one should be careful about their wishes -- MSU could very well move the free speech zone, say to the middle of the Grant Street Garage, or to the courtyard north of Kentwood Hall. (Continued…)
Kevin Sweet
posted 11/06/07 @ 1:25 PM CST
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that the free speech zone is in a populated area. It would be rather ironic to stick it in a place where not many traverse. (Continued…)
Melissa Davis
posted 11/09/07 @ 11:46 AM CST
I have a question, a sincere question.
Have any of the Greenwood kids or parents complained? Were there any Greenwood kids that actually heard the word?
I ask this because I have been around Greenwood before. (Continued…)
Brandon Davis
posted 11/09/07 @ 2:05 PM CST
Melissa-
The answer to your question is no. After the original "incident" of "amplified obscenities", Greenwood teachers were interviewed and they said that they had not heard anything from the actual concert but after being told about what happened, they were concerned the children might have heard it. (Continued…)
Kevin Sweet
posted 11/09/07 @ 3:00 PM CST
No, I wasn't saying the protest should've been anywhere else I understand why it was where it was--people probably wouldn't connect the dots if the protest was next to Strong. (Continued…)
Brandon Davis
posted 11/09/07 @ 3:21 PM CST
That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure. Unfortunately, it does seem as though it is of no protection from the campus gestapo. When they can't legally shut you down, intimidation seems to be the rule of thumb. (Continued…)
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