I Guess Some Speech is More Free than Others.

Ok, this is getting too easy.

PHOENIX — Hecklers in the audience broke into a loudly sung version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and forced a high-profile Arizona sheriff to abandon a First Amendment forum sponsored by Arizona State University's journalism school.

Arpaio is shouted down at a First Amendment Forum sponsored by the Journalism School.  Unbelievable.

Comments

[Editor]

He was not shouted down by the Journalism School, which is an inanimate object. He was shouted down by ASU students in the Journalism School. I don't know if the students were journalism students.

What you didn't mention in your brief entry is that a larger group of students heckled the hecklers so Arpaio could finish. But the sheriff and ASU administrators chose to shut down the program.

There's more to this story than you reported.

[RonB]

Dear "Editor": This should never have happened in the first place. The students--journalism or otherwise--were rude and out of line. It's not like ASU officials didn't know this was going to happen. It has become typical at universities across the country: "open-minded, tolerant" university officials and students showing just how hypocritical they really are when someone they don't like--personally, professionally, ideologically, or politically--is even invited to speak at their school. And our tax dollars are going to these clowns!? I'm sick of seeing my money paying for this garbage being passed off as higher education.

[Editor]

RonB,

I'm not disputing that it shouldn't have happened. You're right it should not have happened. If ASU administrators weren't expecting something like that they're more brainless than the sheriff.

I was pointing out Greg's inaccurate and too brief report.

[Hmm?]

As someone who was invited and attended, the singing protestors were ASU students from the Tempe campus, not the journalism students. The singing started, Arpaio, the professors and the students were patient but as the singing continued (Bohemian Rhapsody isn't a short song, you know) the annoyance started to show. None of the shouting was directed at Arpaio, however. Just singing. Annoying singing.

For someone who has taken up the journalism mantle, you should try to stop lying.

[PW]

Bohemian Rhapsody??? So, ASU students are either 55 years old, or dorks.

[todd]

From the shots I saw on the news, I don't think these were students. If they were, they were much older than the typical college student.

[RonB]

If the "singers" weren't ASU students then they shouldn't have been there in the first place. The limited seating was for ASU students. Regardless who was in attendance, ASU officials, including the participating professors, just blew this one--not to anyone's surprise.

[todd]

RonB - I looked and these events are not restricted to students.

[RonB]

Todd - Events like this should be; at least students should be given first shot at the seating. This was originally billed as a debate between Arpaio and three (yes, three) ASU professors, sponsored by the journalism school. It turned into another opportunity for pro-illegal immigration nutjobs to shout down the Sheriff, or any one else who believes in securing our borders and arresting law breakers. Oh, tsk, tsk, who cares about the First Amendment, national sovereignty, and the rule of law?

[Winnie]

When you open your classroom (journalism or otherwise) to the public, things can often look pretty ugly or confusing.

This episode falls squarely on the professors and the school itself. Can't blame the dopey students -- that's what they're in college for.

By inviting Arpaio into the classroom, the professors created a test the students could not pass.

[RonB]

Winnie: Yes, exactly my point. ASU officials are to blame. They need to return (if this crowd ever was there) to EDUCATING students, not just providing forums for their leftist politics. Taxpayers aren't getting their money's worth, and we are doing a disservice to students.