Another blow to free speech

BY ELDON JOHN VASELAAR
Guest Writer

September 28, students and faculty of Saint Mary’s University met in the faculty dining room to ask questions about a decision regarding the play Seven Jewish Children, by Caryl Churchill.

The play was scheduled on the calendar to be held at the Veterans’ Memorial. The students were practicing at the location when suddenly they were told it was not okay and to move the play. They were given the option of being 20 feet off to the side in the grass or in the theater. Students and staff wondered why there was a problem since the play was originally scheduled there in the first place when there was enough time to review the script and withhold permission if there were issues. The student proposal was submitted in April of 2009. With these thoughts in mind, the attendees were allowed to ask questions of an official. These questions were not answered. Using a familiar tactic, the official set up to take the heat persistently avoided the concerns and questions of those present, saying that since the wound from putting the Veterans’ Memorial up was too new, the play could not be at the memorial since they want to stress it is only being used as a memorial and not reopen the issue - especially because holding a play there had raised a few eyebrows. The official also stated that no such activity would have been allowed regardless of content, but when asked if the American Legion or VFW wanted to do something would they be turned down, there was no answer. Instead, it would be looked at on a “case by case” basis.

The main arguments against the memorial were that it would be promoting war and misinterpreted along with putting wars above question. Most of those who opposed the building of the memorial supported holding the play there, so in effect this decision is rubbing salt in the wound, causing exactly what administration is trying to avoid.

Not one person against holding the play attended the meeting. If the protest by a few individuals can prevent the use of this memorial by a student, what says other complaints couldn’t be used to deny the use of other spaces? In this decision, free speech, the very thing these veterans died for, is being cast aside due to a few complaints from people who wouldn’t even show up to voice why they were against it in the first place.