Ad Sparks Debate Over Free Speech

A recent advertisement in the student newspaper at a state school in Massachusetts has sparked debate on the school's campus and in the Boston media about free speech rights.

The Owl, the student paper at Westfield (Mass.) State College, ran an advertisement on September 20 for Anthony's Pub, a local bar which was seeking female dancers. Some Westfield students said they were extremely offended by the ad.

"When something is offensive or slanderous, it should not be said or printed," Kelly O'Neill, secretary of the Westfield student government, wrote in a October 3 article in The Owl. "I know that it can be, but it should not be."

Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr has commented on the issue already, and local television stations are reportedly preparing pieces, a number of Westfield students said yesterday.

Ronald Applebaum, president of the college, said the controversy over the issue has been exaggerated. "Although the ad has questionable taste, [this issue] has been blown way out of proportion," Applebaum said.

Applebaum said the Westfield administration has no plans to restrict what The Owl can print, and most of the pressure has come from the student body.

The five-person editorial board at The Owl met before the advertisement was printed to discuss whether or not to run the ad.

"Nobody on the ed board had a problem with it," said Kevin Barnard, editor of The Owl. "In fact, the biggest supporter was the only female on the editorial board."

Student representatives debated the decision to run the advertisement a few weeks ago at Westfield's Student Government Association meeting. Barnard also brought up the issue at a more recent meeting of the student government.

"There was some controversy at the meeting," Barnard said, "but this is a rather conservative campus."

Barnard said he believes the issue is whether the first amendment or the student government should decide what may be printed in the school paper.

"I stuck by the First Amendment," said Barnard, "and if I were called to run the ad again, I would."

Although no official vote was taken by the student government's senate, Barnard said he believed government sentiment was against running the ad.

The college's administration is emphasizing the constructive nature of the on-campus debate. Jean Jullian, director of public affairs, commended the students "for doing exactly what the college is there for-- to debate issues of free speech."

Students, however, continue to take offense atthe ad. In a letter to the editor of The Owl,Westfield student Owen Broadhurt compared thedecision to run the ad for female dancers toprinting an ad for "the Ku Klux Klan, AmericanNazi Party, D'Aubisson death squads, or similarhideous miscreants."

Despite all the free publicity generated by thead, the owner of Anthony's Pub, who would not givehis name, said he will not purchase the ad again."We didn't want to create any controversy," hesaid

Students, however, continue to take offense atthe ad. In a letter to the editor of The Owl,Westfield student Owen Broadhurt compared thedecision to run the ad for female dancers toprinting an ad for "the Ku Klux Klan, AmericanNazi Party, D'Aubisson death squads, or similarhideous miscreants."

Despite all the free publicity generated by thead, the owner of Anthony's Pub, who would not givehis name, said he will not purchase the ad again."We didn't want to create any controversy," hesaid