SectionsPolice respond to F-word
Robin Hoover
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News
Campus and city police officers told a Missouri State University student earlier this month that the F-word cannot be said on the Bear Paw, a designated free speech zone.
One campus safety officer and one Springfield Police officer responded to the Bear Paw after a profanity complaint was made on Oct. 5, said Gary Snavely, director of safety and transportation.
The call was made in response to a performance by an acoustic guitar and banjo band, Rhythm Sandwich, during a show for students called Your Mom Fest.
"There was something said to the effect of 'How the f-- is everyone doing,'" Lucas Cain of Rhythm Sandwich said.
Later in the performance, the band said the F-word again in a song lyric.
"I screamed 'burning that f--er and stringing my black flag high,'" Joe Lusk, the singer in Rhythm Sandwich said.
The lyric is in reference to burning an American flag on the Fourth of July and raising the anarchist flag. The song was an Against Me! cover song called "Baby I'm an Anarchist."
"This line was yelled, rather than sung like the rest of the song, so it was considerably louder and echoed quite a bit more between the buildings," Lusk said. "Shortly afterwards, a police officer (showed up)."
According to Rob Lehr, senior general business major and sole organizer of Your Mom Fest, an officer approached him shortly after 11 a.m.
The officer told Lehr that Rhythm Sandwich and the remaining singers could not use the F-word, Lehr said.
"The DJ of a rap band coming up had to change every other song and custom edit the songs before going on (stage)," Lehr said. "I can't control what people say."
According to Missouri State's Expressive Activity Policy, the Bear Paw is an area on campus that has been designated a free speech zone for all people regardless of their connection to the university to express themselves.
However, expression that is obscene, defamatory or incites violence is not entitled to First Amendment protection and not permitted by the policy.
One campus safety officer and one Springfield Police officer responded to the Bear Paw after a profanity complaint was made on Oct. 5, said Gary Snavely, director of safety and transportation.
The call was made in response to a performance by an acoustic guitar and banjo band, Rhythm Sandwich, during a show for students called Your Mom Fest.
"There was something said to the effect of 'How the f-- is everyone doing,'" Lucas Cain of Rhythm Sandwich said.
Later in the performance, the band said the F-word again in a song lyric.
"I screamed 'burning that f--er and stringing my black flag high,'" Joe Lusk, the singer in Rhythm Sandwich said.
The lyric is in reference to burning an American flag on the Fourth of July and raising the anarchist flag. The song was an Against Me! cover song called "Baby I'm an Anarchist."
"This line was yelled, rather than sung like the rest of the song, so it was considerably louder and echoed quite a bit more between the buildings," Lusk said. "Shortly afterwards, a police officer (showed up)."
According to Rob Lehr, senior general business major and sole organizer of Your Mom Fest, an officer approached him shortly after 11 a.m.
The officer told Lehr that Rhythm Sandwich and the remaining singers could not use the F-word, Lehr said.
"The DJ of a rap band coming up had to change every other song and custom edit the songs before going on (stage)," Lehr said. "I can't control what people say."
According to Missouri State's Expressive Activity Policy, the Bear Paw is an area on campus that has been designated a free speech zone for all people regardless of their connection to the university to express themselves.
However, expression that is obscene, defamatory or incites violence is not entitled to First Amendment protection and not permitted by the policy.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Sawyer McPeek
posted 10/23/07 @ 2:25 AM CST
When people start banning words from a free speech area, you completely contradict the meaning of free speech. F*** is a word. Grow up and get over it. (Continued…)
Piper
posted 10/23/07 @ 7:20 AM CST
Most professors use profanity in classrooms. Are we going to ban those too now?
Allison Brown
posted 10/23/07 @ 7:51 AM CST
Far more people find things that visitors such as Brother Jed say to be offensive than one curse word that, lets face it, we have all heard countless times. (Continued…)
Regina Harris
posted 10/23/07 @ 11:28 AM CST
I would have to say that there are much more important things the Springfield police force could be doing other than threatening people who use swear words. (Continued…)
Brandon Davis
posted 10/23/07 @ 3:11 PM CST
Wow... the lunacy of the "Buckle in the Bible Belt" that is Springfield seems to know no bounds when it comes to constitutionally protected free speech. (Continued…)
ntmachines
Nathan
posted 10/23/07 @ 4:20 PM CST
Sadly enough this is a very typical happening in this wonderful country called we like to call America. Happenings like this always remind me of a quote by George Carlin. (Continued…)
ntmachines
Nathan
posted 10/23/07 @ 4:35 PM CST
Oh yeah, and YouTube search "October 30th's" If your interested in Gravel's censorship.
Joey Rowlett
posted 10/23/07 @ 6:28 PM CST
Does this really suprise any of you? No matter how much of a reaction we make about this, there isn't anything that will be done about it. The Bear Paw is a "free speech" zone. (Continued…)
Heather Woods
posted 10/23/07 @ 7:01 PM CST
I can't believe the police responded to something like this, but more than that I can't believe anyone would be insane enough to CALL the police when they hear a certain word. (Continued…)
Victoria Easley
posted 10/24/07 @ 9:51 AM CST
Here's what I find interesting: in our free speech zones, evangelists can say that Buddhists are going to hell, but you can't say the F-word. I could even burn the flag, and as long as I keep it contained the police can't legally touch me. (Continued…)
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