This Just In: Harvard Censors "Barely Legal" Party

Published Jun 05 2008, 06:14 PM by Harvey Silverglate

In a puritan streak, Harvard University has forced several student groups who were planning on hosting a "Barely Legal" party to change the name -- or they otherwise couldn't hold the party, according to the Harvard Crimson and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). (Disclosure: Free For All writer Harvey Silverglate is Chairman of the Board of Directors of FIRE.) One student involved in the party's planning explained that the name was meant to imply the party "is going to be so crazy it should be illegal," but other students complained about the allusions to pornography. It's unfortunate that students are so sensitive on college campuses that they force their classmates to apologize even though their party ideas aren't "intended to imply statutory rape," but it's even more unfortunate that Harvard has shamelessly capitulated to student complaints and prevented students from expressing themselves. In the words of FIRE President Greg Lukianoff, "If Harvard is willing to censor something as small as a party with a mild theme, how can we believe that it will defend the expression of truly controversial views on its campus?"

Updated (6/10/08 1:30pm): Readers who access The Free For All through the old site rather than the new site might see this post misattributed below to Wendy Kaminer because of software limitations with the old system. The post was penned by James Tierney, a research assistant for Harvey Silverglate.

Filed Under: First Amendment, free speech, higher education, political correctness, pornography

This Just In: Harvard Censors "Barely Legal" Party

This Just In: Aye Carumba! Star Simpson Gets A Pretty Good Deal

Follow the Boston Phoenix

All Blogs

Talking Politics (1,523)
Outside The Frame (305)
On The Download (2,158)
Dont Quote Me (517)
Phlog (1,419)
Laser Orgy (32)

Filed Under: First Amendment, free speech, higher education, political correctness, pornography, sexual correctness

Boston Phoenix
Critical Mass
Published 11/20/2009 by KYLE SMEALLIE AND HARVEY SILVERGLATE
Over the years, UMass Amherst has proven to be a reliable hotbed for political hypocrisy and squelching of free speech

Boston Phoenix
Muzzle Awards: Collegiate Division
Published 7/10/2009 by HARVEY SILVERGLATE
New England campuses muzzle free speech

more by Harvey Silverglate

Free speech again quashed at Harvard | October 23, 2009

The Gates case isn't about race | August 07, 2009

Muzzle Awards: Collegiate Division | July 10, 2009

Guilty until proven guilty | June 26, 2009

Sotomayor's mixed message on free speech | June 05, 2009

See all articles by: Harvey Silverglate

Latest Comments

Phoenix meets the Phoenix: hugely awesome band to perform intimate gig for lucky Boston Phoenix readers - Christian Louboutin replica shoes are available at attractive rates in all outlets across the world....

By Gucci Sneakers on 11-25-2009 in On The Download

Khazei Sneaking Up? - Cappy speaks too fast with high pitched, tinny voice that makes him hard to take seriously. Alan has...

By realitybill on 11-25-2009 in Talking Politics

City Council Forums - Видеоклипы бесплатно и без регистрации. Огромный архив, онлайн просмотр. http://icetv.ru <a href=...

By LypetalsEteLp on 11-25-2009 in Talking Politics

Khazei Sneaking Up? - Capuano is closing like a race horse. In this poll, his favorable #'s surpass Coakley's for the first...

By Tiny Elvis on 11-25-2009 in Talking Politics

Khazei Sneaking Up? - I've seen the video of Khazei explaining his cavassing strategy, and my question is: how does he choose...

By rondofan on 11-25-2009 in Talking Politics

Latest Comments from Free For All

This Just In: Harvard Censors "Barely Legal" Party

Leave a Comment