Recently, the student editor of the Rocky Mountain Collegian made a stand. J. David McSwane is the editor of the student newspaper at Colorado State University and on Sept. 21 the publication ran a story regarding freedom of speech in relation to the recent use of a Taser on a student at a John Kerry press conference.

There is no problem being critical of this incident, it has all the merits of prohibiting freedom of speech.

So for the Collegian, please criticize the police for not allowing Kerry to respond and restricting the student’s freedom of speech. It is justified.

Where the real problem lies is in the headline written with the story.

The headline and body of the story read “Taser this...F—k Bush.”

It is unimaginable that something so atrocious was published as a headline, not because of the political aspect but because of the lack of journalistic integrity involved in the decision by McSwane.

Political leaders should always be criticized and closely scrutinized, as long as the criticism is not rooted in ignorance.

This editorial is not rooted in political beliefs, but solely in the journalistic and ethical credibility of McSwane.

Andrew Meyer of the University of Florida was removed from the Kerry press conference in what was a restriction on the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed in the First Amendment. There is no question in that, but to attack the president for it is completely unnecessary. Go ahead and attack the police, but attacking the president is ignorant.

And to do it in such a tasteless manner is uncalled for. McSwane was not removed from his position for his responsibility for the headline, in what can only be a complete disregard of journalistic ethics.

He simply received a slap on the wrist.

Some may say that is what he deserved and his supporting point to the rights featured in the First Amendment.

Profanity and obscenities are actually not protected by the First Amendment and attempting to use the First Amendment as a defense, like McSwane did, is ignorant.

His supporters have also made calls for leniency because of the student publications involved. The Rocky Mountain Collegian pays completely for its production and is completely student-run. Casting aside such a matter because of naivety is a mistake.

Don’t downgrade the ethical and responsible decisions that thousands of student newspapers make every day and the integrity of student journalism with one ignorant editor who failed to realize the aftermath of his actions and his responsibility to uphold journalistic standards.

As reported in the BBC, the Rocky Mountain Collegian’s state of ethics makes it very clear that “profane and vulgar words are not acceptable for opinion writing.” McSwane disregarded his own code of ethics and was still not removed from his position.

Finally this incident damages the reputation of student journalism around the country. This sort of action is not allowable and on top of that the Collegian’s bylaws outlaw this expression.

Because of this situation student journalism no longer have the same respect and credibility.

Students work extremely hard to produce ethical and fair journalism and will now be thrown together with this editor, who showed a complete disregard for the rules of journalism, his university, his publicatiton and himself.

The reputations of the staff members at the Rocky Mountain Collegian and the reputations of student journalists around the country are now damaged because of his ignorance.

Staff: - 10/10/07