Members of a committee on free speech at Georgetown proposed a possible addition to the current Speech and Expression Policy in front of the Georgetown University Student Association Tuesday night. The addition clarifies the current policy, emphasizing that the Vice President of Student Affairs can take away anonymous publications from public distribution places if he considers them “grossly offensive.”
Juan Gonzalez, vice president of student affairs, called the Committee on Speech and Expression this semester in response to student concerns over an anonymous publication that was distributed just before the end of last semester. The publication parodied a campus newspaper, The Hoya, and made remarks about specific members of the Georgetown community that were considered by many to be offensive and slanderous.
The committee was formed in 1989 and is comprised of four students and four faculty members. It advises the Vice President of Student Affairs on the Speech and Expression Policy.
Under the current policy, the Vice President of Student Affairs may prohibit speech that “endangers … the safety of any member of the community or of any of the community’s physical facilities … disrupts or obstructs the functions of the University,” or that is “indecent or is grossly obscene or grossly offensive on matters such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual preference.”
“I think this institution holds free speech dear to its core, but it also recognizes we are a private institution and there are different standards,” Gonzalez said. “Because we are a Catholic and Jesuit private institution, we do have more freedom to try to control the environment and respond.”
According to Gonzalez, the addition doesn’t change that policy. Instead, it clarifies the current policy, sending a warning to students that anonymous publications in violation of the policy and that specific members of the Georgetown community can be taken from distribution sites.
“The policy communicates to the community the concerns we have. It makes the Vice President’s policy less vague,” said Government professor Anthony Arend, a member of the Committee on Speech and Expression.
Students present at Tuesday’s GUSA meeting expressed concerns about the possible policy change.
“The most valid concern I heard was people asking why we are taking the responsibility away from students to chose what’s worth their time,” said Meghan Keeler (SFS ‘02), a member of the Committee on Speech and Expression and senior class GUSA representative.
Mark Goodman, executive director of the Student Press Law Center echoed Keeler’s concern.
“I think it is extremely disturbing that a university would say they are going to be the thought police,” Goodman said. “Throughout history in every major movement for change there has been a strong and proud belief in anonymous expression. To say that it could not be tolerated is troubling.”
Gonzalez said discussion on the policy may take the remainder of the semester. The committee will seek feedback from groups such as the Media Board, the Main Campus Faculty Senate and the Council of Deans in the coming weeks.
“It is important to emphasize that the changes made are not definitive and that the input received from faculty and students will be taken into account,” said Alfredo Toro (CAS ‘02), another student member of the committee.
