F-Word Editor at Colorado State Keeps Job

[flowomo]

Source: InsideHigherEd.com

J. David McSwane, who wrote the now notorious editorial about President Bush for The Rocky Mountain Collegian, will keep his job. The editorial contained two words, one of them starting with an F, and set off many calls for McSwane to lose his position as the top editor at the student paper at Colorado State University. But The Rocky Mountain News reported that at a hearing Thursday, the board that oversees the newspaper voted to admonish McSwane, calling the editorial “unethical and unprofessional” and a violation of the newspaper’s ban on the use of profane words in opinion writing. But the board declined to fire McSwane.

Read more: http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/10/05/qt

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I wrote about this case in my weekly newspaper column recently, saying he should not have been fired:

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2007/10/05/editorial/rich_lewis/lewis56.txt

[rfranklin]

1. The Bush junta is unethical and criminal...

but you won't see those board members voting on that issue. What hypocritical arseholes!

[Heidi]

2. Recommended. McSwane is a fine journalist.

Here's one of his articles that appeared in Denver Westword: http://www.westword.com/2005-09-29/news/an-army-of-anyone/full

[jimnasium]

3. He's got the right to say whatever he wants... it's an editorial!

Did the paper take a drop in readership?

No?

Then what's the big freakin deal?

[yellowcanine]

4. If he owns the paper yes. If it is taxpayer supported - no.

He should not have been fired. But he also should show a little more discretion. If he cannot, then the honorable thing to do is to resign and find an outlet for his opinions elsewhere.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Fuck that shit.

Being taxpayer supported is no excuse for censorship.

[yellowcanine]

9. Actually it is. Freedom of speech doesn't mean all of us have to pay for it.

It's fine when we agree with what is being said, but how about if some right wing neo nazi wannabe is writing for a taxpayer funded student newspaper? Not so much then, huh?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Mmm, no, it doesn't.

Censorship is still wrong, even when taxpayers do it.

"how about if some right wing neo nazi wannabe is writing for a taxpayer funded student newspaper?"

I have no problem if a paper wants to fire a neo nazi wannabe. Or, for that matter, somebody who makes disingenous comparisons between neo-nazis and democrats.

[Heidi]

8. You're mistaken about that. (nt)

[jayschool]

5. Did the paper take a drop in readership?

The big freakin' deal is that we are bleeding financially at this point.

If you would like to support the paper and allow us to continue to provide students with the opportunity to publish, call the Collegian at 970-491-1693 and offer to make a donation or buy advertising. If you have about $150,000, that would be even better.

Jeff

[iowa_democrat]

10. ad revenue

Actually, it is my understanding that many advertisers (this is after all Marylin Manson er I mean Musgrave's district) pulled their ads.

[ContraBass Black]

6. I think he deserves a reprimand.

What point did he convey? Who did he convince? It was a waste of ink.

[kestrel91316]

12. I support McSwane, but tend to agree with this assessment:

".....unprofessional and a violation of the newspaper’s ban on the use of profane words in opinion writing......"

If they have a policy against profanity, then HIS using it was uncool. But I STILL like his message.

[Vidar]

13. Applauding both the paper & McSwane.

[Duncan]

14. Right On McSwane!

The word "fuck" has never been used as properly in any editorial I've ever read.