Reinstate Anti-War Opinion Editor
To The Recorder Staff--
It has come to our attention that on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, Central Connecticut State University's newspaper The Recorder's Opinion Editor, student Marissa Blaszko, was fired from her position for an alleged conflict of interest. The Recorder's editor-in-chief called Marissa into a private meeting and presented her with an ultimatum to quit campus activism or resign her position with the student newspaper. Marissa refused to make a choice. She was later locked out of the office and fired.
The editor-in-chief told Marissa that she was being fired for her prominence in campus activism and her membership in the Youth for Socialist Action club, and not based on her job performance. It was explained to her that editors are forbidden to participate in campus protests against the Iraq war, or bring to campus the author of a new book on the frame-up of journalist and death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.
We declare as invalid any internal code or policy of The Recorder which presumes to grant its editor-in-chief the authority to purge the staff of such political convictions and activities as he or she finds disagreeable. Such an absurd claim to power contradicts every official policy of the University, every civil liberties egal precedent of the past 40 years, not to mention the animating spirit of our state and federal constitutions.
We consider Marissa's firing and any internal policy which its perpetrators would produce in an attempt to justify it as a subversion of basic democratic rights. Under no circumstances does an employer ever have the right to fire an employee for legally exercising her constitutional rights.
We demand Marissa's immediate and unconditional reinstatement to her position at The Recorder, along with a reaffirmation from the newspaper editors that it will not tolerate discrimination against its staff on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual preference, personal views or affiliations, or any other conditions established by the law.
Sincerely,
15 CCSU student leaders
over 30 CCSU professors
over 130 CCSU students
(Visit http://freespeechcentral.wordpress.com for more info!)
To The Recorder Staff--
It has come to our attention that on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, Central Connecticut State University's newspaper The Recorder's Opinion Editor, student Marissa Blaszko, was fired from her position for an alleged conflict of interest. The Recorder's editor-in-chief called Marissa into a private meeting and presented her with an ultimatum to quit campus activism or resign her position with the student newspaper. Marissa refused to make a choice. She was later locked out of the office and fired.
The editor-in-chief told Marissa that she was being fired for her prominence in campus activism and her membership in the Youth for Socialist Action club, and not based on her job performance. It was explained to her that editors are forbidden to participate in campus protests against the Iraq war, or bring to campus the author of a new book on the frame-up of journalist and death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.
We declare as invalid any internal code or policy of The Recorder which presumes to grant its editor-in-chief the authority to purge the staff of such political convictions and activities as he or she finds disagreeable. Such an absurd claim to power contradicts every official policy of the University, every civil liberties egal precedent of the past 40 years, not to mention the animating spirit of our state and federal constitutions.
We consider Marissa's firing and any internal policy which its perpetrators would produce in an attempt to justify it as a subversion of basic democratic rights. Under no circumstances does an employer ever have the right to fire an employee for legally exercising her constitutional rights.
We demand Marissa's immediate and unconditional reinstatement to her position at The Recorder, along with a reaffirmation from the newspaper editors that it will not tolerate discrimination against its staff on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, sexual preference, personal views or affiliations, or any other conditions established by the law.
Sincerely,
15 CCSU student leaders
over 30 CCSU professors
over 130 CCSU students
(Visit http://freespeechcentral.wordpress.com for more info!)
Thirty years ago, I got involved in the anti-war movement and a predecessor of the current YSA in part because the authorities tried to run the YSA off a campus in Indiana . Repression like the university goes a long way in exposing how democracy is only for the corporate rich, not working people, people of color, women and people of varying sexual orientation. May your current actions make hundreds, thousands new defenders of democratic rights and socialists so we end what Albert Einstein called "this predatory period of history" and begin a true age of democracy here and worldwide.
Please include any organizations you are with, or any comments you may have to give your signature more of an impact.
Masters Program in Education, Lehman College - City University of New York
Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace
Executive Director & Managing Editor, on behalf of the Edmonton Small Press Association (ESPA), a registered non-profit independent media organization with 750 members from 33 countries.
With newspapers dwindling in number, we need to be even more aware of supporting journalists (and blossoming journalists) with integrity. We need them to help us stay informed!
Quinebaug Valley Community College student leader
CCSU Alumni Municipal employee As a granduate social work student, it was made clear to me by my professors that we have the right to speak out on issues or viewpoints that may not be popular with all individuals. We were also taught that activism was an important part of social work, and that we had an obligation to do whatever it takes to protect the rights of our clients-even if it means going to jail. Students have a right to be informed about many different issues and to be exposed to the opinions of many different people. This is all part of the learning process. They should also have the right to pursue all kinds of extra-curricular activites. If CCSU is doing its job by creating a well rounded and all inclusive academic environment, there is no reason for administrators to collectively feel threatened by important and, sometimes controversial,issues being introduced through the school newspaper. In an optimum academic environment, all points of view should be presented in order to promote a greater understanding of current events and of how those events impact different groups of individuals. CCSU students are intelligent enough to make their own judgments about media stories. They also have a right to receive fair and balanced information. I am disappointed that those who are behind the termination of this young woman appear to be intolerant of an individual's right to freedom of speech and would consider firing an employee for exercising that right in an attempt to promote awareness of important issues. I fear that sometimes we go too far in our efforts to be politically correct in all situations.
How important that we participate democratically in the actions of our choice. What else is left but fascism.
It would behoove an institution of "higher learning" to encourage thinking beyond the militaristic propaganda of corporations who profit from war. There is indeed conflict of interest here. It is not the editor of the paper, who is serving her community and our democracy well. It is Central Connecticut State University's indirect attempt to perpetuate war by silencing those who question this anti-social and murderous militarism. The University is silencing the editor on behalf of the corporations that profit from war. It is young people the age of their students who become the cannon fodder, not those people who are the age of their administration. George Bush avoided military service as a youngster. Let us end war as a solution to conflicts, in order that ALL youngsters can lead productive lives rather than being called to dominate and murder others. We need to join together with people from all regions in order to solve the world's real problems.
I am a cinematographer, an author, a member of two labor unions, a college instructor, and a film historian, and in all those professions, the absolute Freedom of Speech guaanteed us in our Constitution is inviolable. There can be no Free Press without Free Speech. Shame on you for firing one of your best writers. The Bush Dynasty of stupidity and illiteracy and denying basic civil rights is over. Wake up.
This activity by editor in chief is totally unethical and controlling. Afraid of freedom?
