|
Hey, Hey SGA, How Many Rights Did You Void Today?
Student Commentary by Dustin Allison
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the government for a redress of grievances.”
This is the content of the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution and it
is something that isn’t respected around Mars Hill College.
The First Amendment grants us five “inalienable rights:” freedom
of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech. While these rights have
been fought over in courts and interpreted differently, they still exist and
remain our “God-given rights.” Of the five rights listed in the
First Amendment, the SGA has already restricted three.
“The right of the people peaceably to assemble.” Last
year when the Open Doors group requested to become an official group, SGA denied
them in a vote of 21 to 17. The members of Open Doors had their right to assemble
denied. Of course, you can argue that the members can still gather without official
group status but you would actually be wrong. The college changed its club policy
this year to state “Groups not approved by the Student Affairs Council
may not use college facilities and may not meet under another group’s
name.” It is an outward violation of our school’s policy for Open
Doors to “peaceably assemble,” their First Amendment right. The
right to gather peacefully: voided by SGA in a vote of 21 to 17.
“Abridging the freedom of speech.” This week SGA voted
against the usage of sidewalk chalk by a vote of 21 to 16. The reasoning behind
this was the school’s policy of getting posters approved by student life
and it was unfair to allow students to write on sidewalks without previous approval.
The only items I’ve seen hanging in dorms and bulletin boards that must
be approved are advertisements. These are not forms of art or expression, but
instead the items you must get approved are business items like advertisements
for group meetings, upcoming events, or campaign posters for class officers.
The freedom of speech clause in our nation’s Constitution has also been
interpreted as freedom of expression. I’ve yet to see anything hanging
in the Weizenblatt gallery that has been stamped “Ok’d to Post.”
Right of free speech: restricted by a vote of 21 to 16.
“Freedom...of the press.” As stated in the SGA constitution,
“All Senate meetings are closed to media...” Everything that is
published on the Hilltop is what SGA gives to the Hilltop themselves. All comments
made by representatives are kept confidential and private unless approved in
writing. I’m not sure how this policy came to be, but freedom of press
is restricted.
The last two rights which remain in the First Amendment are the right to freedom
of religion and freedom of petition. While some students would argue that freedom
of religion doesn’t exist at Mars Hill, it is not SGA influenced. Also,
as far as I know, SGA hasn’t restricted the freedom of petition, but with
one of the first acts of the 2005-2006 SGA being to restrict freedom of speech,
who is to say it’s not on the horizon?
Give us your feedback. We value your opinions.
The Hilltop reserves the right not to post anonymous comments or any that
could be judged slanderous, that make unverifiable allegations of fact, or use
language we consider in bad taste.
All fields must be filled in.
HOME
| 
