Duquesne University Politically Correct FLAP: The Facebook Censorship
The Facebook
The ASSociated Press and the Pittsburgh Channel has Expulsion For Gay Comments?
Duquesne Student Resists Punishment
A Duquesne University sophomore will risk being kicked out of school rather than write an essay as punishment for expressing his view that homosexuality is “subhuman.”
Ryan Miner, 19, of Hagerstown, Md., was sanctioned by Duquesne after posting his view in The Facebook, an online directory that is not related to the university.
The political speech cops are out at Duquesne.
Who are the MORONS who are monitoring this kid’s Facebook?
Miner opposed an effort by other students to form a Gay-Straight Alliance group, an issue that is still being debated by the university.
“I believe as a student that my First Amendment rights in the Constitution were subverted and attacked,” said Miner.
You betcha……
After Miner’s comments appeared online, some students complained to the school.
After a hearing, the Office of Judicial Affairs found Miner guilty of violating the University Code, which prohibits harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation, among other groups.
A 10-page paper was assigned as punishment. Miner said he refuses to write it and will file an appeal.
What a waste of time.
This is Facebook.
And the University Code violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
A reminder:
First Amendment of the Bill of Rights: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
The ACLU has a good section on free speech and university codes of speech and conduct here.
Don’t write that paper!
4 Comments
Mark
As a Duquesne University student, I would like to respectfully point out the following…
(1) No one from the University monitors FaceBook usage. It was investigated by the University’s Judicial Affairs after multiple complaints from students.
(2) The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights protects individuals from having the government restrist their speech. Since the University is a private institution, this is not an infringement of the First Amendment. Had this taken place at a public school, I would totally agree with you.
Flap
Sorry Mark you are wrong.
Whether it is a private or public university makes no difference.
Go to the ACLU site that I linked above and read about the cases from other schools which are cited.
CARose
I agree with your conclusion that Ryan should not write the paper, but I am disturbed by the fact that the schools paper has misrepresented what Ryan posted on Facebook in the first place, and this subtle yet very significant distinction seems to have been missed by many who are commenting on this situation, both here and at the school.
From what I understand, as a quote of Ryan states, his post was that the homosexual ACT is subhuman, NOT that the homosexual person is subhuman. This is consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church, of which Ryan is a member, and with which the school is supposedly associated. A depraved act does not lessen the intrinsic value of the person, but the person has reduced themselves in terms of their holiness. We each have different paths that we walk in the course of our lives, some are more difficult than others. If the homosexual orientation is in fact innate in the person, if they are truly born with a preference for the same gender, then who could deny that they have a tougher life as a result. Yet this does not change the fact that we all are required to learn self control against inappropriate impulses. And yes, I do consider homosexuality to be based on inappropriate impulses which are best not explored and reinforced.
Ryan merely affirmed what the Catholic Church teaches, even if, in his youth, he chose to use an explosive term which has resulted in much controversy and difficulties for him.
I wish him well in his endeavor, and I’m glad to see you support him and encourage him to not give in to undue pressure.
God bless,
CARose
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