Monthly Archives: March 2009

Comic Book and ‘Nintendo Power’ Under Fire

By |2020-01-03T13:26:29-05:00March 31st, 2009|Blog|

In recent weeks, a Spider-Man comic book and Nintendo Power magazine have been challenged in school libraries in Cleveland, Ohio, and in Millard, Nebraska, respectively. Parents have asked whether a scantily-clad cartoon woman (in one case) or violence in a video game magazine (in the other case) constitute appropriate reading materials for students in school. Here, NCAC takes a look [...]

Update: Judge Agrees with Teens in Pennsylvania Sexting Case

By |2022-12-09T14:15:55-05:00March 31st, 2009|Blog|

A victory for free expression! Last week, three Pennsylvania high school students and their families brought suit against a Wyoming County prosecutor over allegations of First Amendment violations. Yesterday, a U.S. District judge sided with the teens, and issued a temporary restraining order against the prosecutor. The judge held that the prosecutor's proposed action violated free speech and parental rights. [...]

School Cancels Bill Ayers Speech

By |2020-01-03T13:26:28-05:00March 30th, 2009|Blog|

The Naperville, IL, School District has cancelled a visit by Bill Ayers at Naperville North High School after the visit scheduled for April 8th sparked heated controversy in the community. Ayers is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Education.  His radical activism and involvement in the 1960s group, the Weathermen, has drawn criticism. The event [...]

My Film

By |2016-01-15T11:55:09-05:00March 29th, 2009|Videos|

this is a work that I really think that other people who are in the same sort of a mind frame would think that was pretty food for thought and all that kind of stuff like that!

The Right to “Sext”: Sending Nude Photos of Oneself is a Right

By |2020-01-03T13:26:26-05:00March 26th, 2009|Blog|

Another legal action over the practice of sexting has emerged. Only this time it is the alleged “sexters” who are suing state prosecutors on the grounds that criminalizing sexting infringes on their First Amendment rights. Last month, three high school students in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania faced the threat of being charged with the possession/dissemination of child pornography, when their school [...]

Utah Governor vetos age-restriction bill

By |2019-03-07T13:57:53-05:00March 25th, 2009|Blog|

We are very happy to report that Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has vetoed bill HB 353. That bill would have punished sellers for "violating" what were previously voluntary age restrictions. In his letter to the Utah Speaker of the House David Clark and Speaker of the Senate, Huntsman writes: While protecting children from inappropriate materials is a laudable goal, the [...]

BGSU art censorship update

By |2016-01-14T15:49:35-05:00March 25th, 2009|Blog|

In an email to faculty today BGSU Interim Provost Mark Gromko stated that “the piece was initially removed so that […] legal review could occur.” Apparently BGSU administrators were wondering whether “the sculpture constituted child pornography or breached restrictions on depictions of child abuse under Ohio law.” As is easy to ascertain, child pornography and depictions of child abuse both [...]

Jack Thompson calls on national policy to limit video game sales

By |2020-01-03T13:26:11-05:00March 25th, 2009|Blog|

Jack Thompson, who penned HB 353 (the bill pending in Utah that we asked you to help stop) has written a letter to President Obama calling for a national plan similar to the one proposed in Utah. In response to a recent tragedy in Germany where a young man shot 15 people at his former school, German and American media [...]

Conference Agenda

By |2016-01-15T12:07:50-05:00March 24th, 2009|Updates|

Contemporary Threats to Free Expression A Symposium for College Professors May 1-2, 2009 Capital Community College in Hartford, Connecticut   Friday, May 1 1:30 – 1:45 PM: Welcome (Don Noel and Joan Bertin) 1:45 – 3:15 PM: Historical overview of the development of contemporary First Amendment law (Chris Finan) 3:15 – 3:30 PM: Break 3:30 – 5:00 PM: Censorship in [...]

NCAC’s statement on the removal of sculpture from public university exhibit

By |2016-01-14T15:50:04-05:00March 23rd, 2009|Blog|

Statement from the National Coalition Against Censorship Regarding the Recent Removal of an Artwork from an Exhibition at BGSU Firelands’ Little Gallery The recent removal of artwork by James Parlin from an exhibition of sculpture in the Little Gallery at Bowling Green State University Firelands is an unacceptable violation of the academic freedom to openly discuss ideas and social problems [...]

BGSU Interim Provost Responds Regarding the Recent Removal of an Artwork from an Exhibition at Firelands’ Little Gallery

By |2016-01-15T16:31:26-05:00March 23rd, 2009|Incidents|

In an email to faculty BGSU Interim Provost stated that “the piece was initially removed so that [] legal review could occur.” Apparently, BGSU administrators wondered whether “the sculpture constituted child pornography or breached restrictions on depictions of child abuse.”

Letter to Utah Governor Huntsman Urging Veto of Age Rating Law

By |2016-02-05T14:01:11-05:00March 23rd, 2009|Incidents|

Last week, the Utah Legislature overwhelmingly approved House Bill 353, the “Truth in Advertising” amendments in yet another effort to legally enforce the private voluntary rating schemes used by industry to inform consumers about the contents of movies, video games, and music.   We strongly oppose it and urge you to veto it.

HB 353: Imposing ratings systems and the First Amendment

By |2019-03-13T15:12:43-04:00March 20th, 2009|Blog|

HB 353 has been passed in the Utah state senate, and now sits on Governor Jon Huntsman’s desk.  This bill would hold retailers responsible for selling minors material labeled for mature audiences.  Sellers of books, movies, video games, and music could be penalized up to $2000 for “violating” age guidelines created voluntarily for informational purposes only. This bill takes a [...]

“Breaking Dawn” from Twilight series not on the shelves of Utah school library

By |2019-03-13T15:12:46-04:00March 20th, 2009|Blog|

Reported yesterday in the Salt Lake Tribune, Breaking Dawn, the final book in the Twilight Series has arrived at Brockbank Junior High. So why can't students check it out? Following a parent's complaint, has not been put on the library shelves. As far as we understand, the book was selected for educational reasons and should be kept in the library. [...]

A false dichotomy: Peter Schmidt argues ideological exclusion may have protected us from terrorists

By |2019-03-07T22:40:37-05:00March 20th, 2009|Blog|

In an article published today in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Peter Schmidt responds to the call to stop ideological exclusion, the denial of visa to foreign scholars, writers, etc. based on their political positions. In this article, "Obama Must Tread Fine Line on Scholars Barred From the U.S. for Their Views," Schmidt warns that stopping this exclusion entirely may [...]

“Sex-funded porn”: University of Montana Kaimin’s sex column

By |2020-01-03T13:26:09-05:00March 20th, 2009|Blog|

A sex column in the University of Montana Kaimin, its student-run newspaper, is the brunt of attacks by a couple professors on campus, one of whom has demanded its cessation.  Bess Davis’ “Bess Sex Column” has been targeted as “state-funded porn”, though its author would label it “vanilla” compared to the sex columns of other university newspapers. According to the [...]

A Microcosm of Censorship

By |2020-01-03T13:26:08-05:00March 18th, 2009|Blog|

We’ve noticed that the State of Oregon has been a hotbed for censorship incidents lately.  Here’s what’s been happening around the state: A Portland fifth grader has decided not to perform his act about President Barack Obama in his elementary school’s talent show after the principal forbade him from wearing a mask that depicts Obama during the performance.  The principal [...]

NCAC Joins First Amendment Groups Calling for End to Ideological Exclusion

By |2020-01-03T14:10:01-05:00March 18th, 2009|Incidents|

NCAC has joined many First Amendment, civil liberties, and minority rights organizations in a letter calling on an end to "ideological exclusion."  During the Bush administration, international academics and writers were denied visas to the United States based on their political beliefs.

Teacher fired for pushing for class project on The Laramie Project

By |2020-01-03T13:35:54-05:00March 17th, 2009|Blog|

Following good news of Steve Martin’s bailout, there’s more bad news on the high school drama front. USA Today reports on the firing of a teacher who led a class project on The Laramie Project – a play and film based on responses from Laramie residents after the murder of Matthew Shepherd. The teacher – Debra Taylor – led a [...]

Steve Martin steps into the ring: Take that, Censorship!

By |2020-01-03T13:35:54-05:00March 16th, 2009|Blog|

NCAC has been following the case of Picasso at the Lapin Agile in La Grande Oregon for the past month or so. After receiving a call from a concerned parent, we wrote a letter to the Superintendent explaining how and why his decision to cancel the Steve Martin play was, well, wrong. Unfortunately, a little saber rattling from New York [...]

Separating science from politics: Obama on stem cells. Next: abstinence-only funding?

By |2019-02-25T12:50:21-05:00March 12th, 2009|Blog|

It’s refreshing to see President Obama moving forward on his promise to separate science from politics.  By freeing scientists to do more research using stem cells, and by commissioning NIH to develop guidelines, the President has put scientific decisions where they belong – with scientists. Now maybe he’ll do the same with abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, which have been condemned as inaccurate [...]

Illustrations that “Crossed the line” in The New York Times

By |2019-03-13T15:13:10-04:00March 11th, 2009|Blog|

Image of Henry Kissinger’s backside by David Levine that was pulled from the NYT Op-Ed Page AlterNet reports on a new book by Jerelle Kraus, the former art director of The New York Times Od-Ed and editorial pages, that details the censorship of editorial illustrations in The New York Times. The book All The Art That’s Fit to [...]

Dan Savage on “Sexting”

By |2019-03-13T15:13:12-04:00March 11th, 2009|Blog|

In episode 124 of his sex-advice podcast, Dan Savage weighs in on "sexting." An excerpt: ... I just want to say a quick word about "sexting" which is the craze sweeping the nation. Young people are occasionally being arrested and being bounced out of school ... because once you take a picture of your own junk when you're a minor [...]

Want to contribute to the NCAC blog?

By |2016-01-14T15:53:00-05:00March 11th, 2009|Uncategorized|

Blogging Censorship is looking for bloggers. Requirements: understanding of First Amendment issues, passion for free expression, great reading and writing skills. Perks: join the national discussion of censorship issues, build your writing portfolio, get coffee (if you're in New York City). Options: submit pieces one at a time for review if you're already blogging about censorship issues, cross-post your pieces [...]

ISP Bluehost bans content connected to the “rogue” state of Belarus: Geopolitical squabbling or censorship?

By |2020-01-03T13:20:15-05:00March 10th, 2009|Blog|

On February 20, Washington D.C. resident Yaraslau Kryvoi received notice from Internet service provider and webhost, Utah-based Bluehost, that it was suspending Kryvoi’s account and giving him 10 days to remove content that Bluehost found objectionable from his website. The objectionable content in question? Kryvoi, an immigrant from the former Soviet republic of Belarus, maintained and operated a website for [...]

College ACB succeeds JuicyCampus, AKA the rose phenomenon

By |2019-03-07T21:55:58-05:00March 10th, 2009|Blog|

"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" -- William Shakespeare The day JuicyCampus shuttered, the website (juicycampus.com) began redirecting to College ACB (Anonymous Confession Board). With the same promise of anonymity, College ACB now provides us with the same gems JuicyCampus used to. Select any of the colleges in the drop bar, and [...]

Pleasant Grove v. Summum: Free Speech or Establishment Clause?

By |2019-03-15T16:22:15-04:00March 10th, 2009|Blog|

According to The Associated Press: The Supreme Court ruled unanimously . . . that a small religious group cannot force a city in Utah to place a granite marker in a local park that already is home to a Ten Commandments display. The case, reported in NCAC’s last issue of Censorship News, involves a Salt Lake City based religious sect [...]

Monday Book Censorship Wrap

By |2020-01-03T13:20:11-05:00March 9th, 2009|Blog|

It’s raining here in New York, and it also seems to be raining book censorship news!  From near and far, here’s the round up of book challenges we’re watching. A woman in West Bend, WI, has submitted a complaint to the West Bend Library because she objects to books in the youth section of the library that address [...]

Woman sues Facebook over user generated content

By |2020-01-03T13:20:10-05:00March 6th, 2009|Blog|

Again? Another plaintiff ignores Section 230 of the CDA and sues a website over user generated content SUNY Albany freshman Denise Finkel is suing four former high school classmates, their parents, and Facebook, Inc. over the allegedly defamatory content contained in a private Facebook group the classmates had set up. (Finkel v. Facebook, Inc., 102578-09 (N.Y. Supreme Ct. complaint filed [...]

Kids’ Right to Read Project Urges Return of ‘Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’ to Classrooms

By |2016-01-15T15:17:36-05:00March 6th, 2009|Incidents|

The Kids' Right to Read Project sent the letter below to the school board and superintendent at Crook County Schools to oppose the ongoing ban on classroom use of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  After the superintendent removed the book in violation of district policy, a committee reviewed the book and voted to reinstate it.  The book was returned to the library, but it remains suspended from classroom use while the superintendent, school board, and a committee review the district’s policies on instructional materials.  

The right to know what Karl Rove, Harriet Miers did on our dime and in our name

By |2016-01-14T15:54:18-05:00March 5th, 2009|Blog|

It’s about time that Karl Rove and Harriet Miers testify before the House Judiciary Committee about the dismissal of nine US Attorneys in 2006. There have been widespread allegations that they were fired solely for political reasons, which were supported by an internal Justice Department investigation. Still, Rove and Miers have refused to testify or turn over relevant documents to [...]

NCAC Joins Book Groups in Protesting Restrictions on Books in Topeka Library

By |2020-01-03T13:20:08-05:00March 5th, 2009|Blog|

We’ve been covering challenges to several books about sex in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.  In February, the library board voted to restrict The Joy of Sex, The Joy of Gay Sex, The Lesbian Kama Sutra, and Sex for Busy People, removing them from general circulation in the health section of the library. Svetlana wrote then, While restricting [...]

Wyeth v. Levine decision: Victory for the right-to-know

By |2019-03-13T15:14:03-04:00March 4th, 2009|Blog|

The Supreme Court handed down an opinion today that doesn’t seem to be about suppression of scientific information, but it is. Diana Levine lost her arm when a drug manufactured by Wyeth, was administered to her improperly.  Wyeth knew of the risk of this method of administration, but did not disclose it in its warning label.  Because the label had [...]

Prior review, psychedelics, and high school newspapers

By |2020-01-03T13:20:07-05:00March 4th, 2009|Blog|

Promoting drug use in a high school newspaper is undeniably inappropriate, but is there ever room for critical discussion about drugs?  How about reporting on substantial medical research, which claims some psychedelic drugs might offer positive effects?  Lakeridge High School senior Tyler Smith’s January op-ed, “Psychedelics: Agents of spiritual growth?” which reported on the effects of psychedelic drugs and brought [...]

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