Letters: CU, freedom of speech; TC customer service
CU must not suppress freedom of speech
The CU Boulder administration has issued a statement that "strongly condemns" some messages recently chalked on campus buildings and sidewalks. According to the Denver Post, they included "Hamas is resistance," Israel has "blood in (its) hands" and is "committing another Holocaust" in Gaza and endorsements of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
The administration claims that these are "anti-Semitic" statements that violate CU's free speech policy. In fact, they say nothing that threatens, or is directed toward, the Jewish people as a whole. They are political statements concerning a military conflict between two governments. (Like it or not, the Hamas party is the only entity with any legitimate claim to be the government of Gaza.)
Understandably, some individuals may feel uncomfortable when a political message is publicly displayed that runs counter to their own political views. But the whole point of a university community is to promote free expression. That means giving us all practice in hearing political views that may make us uncomfortable and responding to those views by expressing our own — not by censoring views that we don't like.
The CU free speech policy makes that clear. It guarantees for all members of the university community the right to express political views as private citizens. By condemning and erasing the messages, the administration seems to be violating its own policy.
If indeed there were some messages chalked on campus that are truly anti-Semitic, the administration should immediately make those widely known, so that we can all understand why this suppression of speech is justified. Until that time, we can only conclude that the administration is suppressing freedom of speech and using its power to support one side in an international political conflict. That is never an appropriate role for university administrators.
Ira Chernus, Longmont
TC customer service is embarrassing
What has happened to the Times-Call paper? I have subscribed to the paper for over 25 years and have never been so disappointed with the lack of service. Having to call customer service and find out I'm talking to someone in the Philippines that does nothing to correct delivery problems. You all should be ashamed to call yourself a local paper. Ruth and Ed Lehman would be so embarrassed by the service you now give your subscribers.
Michael Duran, Longmont
