Professor Dhawale awarded Fulbright Scholarship to teach
in India. Read about her story.
Flashback to the 80s with Alex Richardson’s review of The Dark Crystal.
Get all the Details on the Women’s Volleyball Match
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PAGE 6
PAGE 9
against IUPUI.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Vol. 41 Issue 11
www.ipfwcommunicator.org
Kelly McLendon
C
ollege campuses are primary locations for citizens to exercise their First Amendment rights of free speech. From the group that passes out Bibles in front of every building a few times a year, to the man with a microphone who routinely heckles students, the campus is full of people exercising their right to share their thoughts with others publicly. Last week’s Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) tested the boundaries of the amendment for a few students. The GAP showcased abortion in a way that many have never seen it
portrayed before. One student was arrested for jumping over the display’s fence, tearing down the posters and attempting to injure volunteers of the exhibit. The project was brought to campus by the student group, Students for Bio-Ethical Reform. But student Mandy Parker felt the display was designed for a specific purpose. “I think the demonstration was in poor taste, and designed for shock value. I feel it was an insult to the academic atmosphere and harassing to the student population,” she said. Parker was compelled to take action after seeing the exhibit. She delivered 30 to 35 complaint forms from students to the Dean of Students last Thursday. But she didn’t file the complaints strictly for subject matter. “I filed a complaint form because the IPFW Student Handbook was ignored,” she said. “When the incident concerning a student and “disorderly or disruptive conduct” occurred in conjunction with the GAP demonstration, the event should have been shut down, as such actions are “not permitted,” she said, citing
pages 169 and 170 of the IPFW Student Handbook. The exhibit remained up for the rest of the day after the arrest. “I find it disappointing that IPFW could not follow its own rules,” Parker said. There were many legal ways to protest the GAP that were seemingly neglected. Mark Harrington, Executive Director for the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform Midwest, the group that is responsible for GAP, said he believes many college students feel they are an exception to laws and that they can act out because of many reasons. “They haven’t been taught basic civics in high school, or they haven’t been taught the meaning of the First Amendment.
► Free Speech Page 2