Opinion
“Think, Respect” poorly conceived
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Letters to the Editor:
- Clegg absurd, biased on CFACT (May 5, 2009)
- Fund peer tutors (April 28, 2009)
- UW policy consistent with nation (April 23, 2009)
- Biddy's initiative not worth it (April 20, 2009)
- A plan for better advising (April 20, 2009)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
Robert Phansalkar’s op-ed on the new “Think Respect” program (Sept. 22) was welcome. It was good to finally see that a student journalist has grasped the fact that the program, as presently conceived, poses a threat to honest discourse and privacy on campus. The program encourages campus citizens to report not only acts of harassment or discrimination that constitute official misconduct, but all forms of “bias,” verbal and non-verbal, without that term being defined in a manner that is consistent with First Amendment principles. In other words, the present policy amounts to a speech code, as it encourages people to file reports on other people’s attitudes and speech that informants deem insufficiently senstive.
Donald A. Downs Professor
6 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Brother Ali makes an ‘Exclusive’ stop
Muckrakers
Report: Barrett to make decision by the end of the week
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
It is nice to see that at least one member of the faculty respects (and protects) our First Amendment rights. Way to go, Downs!
What is not nice to see, however, is that a professor, as well, as a columinst for the Badger has confused the aim of the Think Canpaign with the University sanctioned program of confidential reporting and punishment. Are there some affliated with the university that are so terrified of a student initiated program that asks only that one "think", that they refuse to understand what the program truely requires? Please see www.diversity.wisc.edu/story.php?id=12827 and this time calm down enough to absorb the difference between the student initiative and the that of the administration. Please direct your constitutional argument (the Badger staffer who wrote the original editorial comment should avail himself of this advice as well) to your Chancellor John D. Wiley and Dean of Students Lori Berquam. It is THEIR specific program you have issues with. Direct your complaints there. And again I urge you to think and read well before you condemn the student initiative that simply asks for open mindness and encourages students to think outside their norm.
Right on.
totally dispectful comments
You're asking students to turn each other in for thoughtcrime.
You just got to get your mind right!