Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: News

A flyer posted on campus yesterday by the Suffolk University College Republicans, which was approved by Student Activities.

Media Credit: Taken from Facebook.com Taken from the Suffolk University College Republicans' Facebook group photos. Below the photo, it reads, "Copy this and email is around!"

Questions around freedom of speech within a private university are always difficult to answer. But determining how far is too far became an issue yesterday when a student organization's flyer garnered a slew of negative attention.
The Suffolk University College Republicans posted what some have called a racist and inappropriate flyer. The flyer, which reads the cliché political phrase, "You know, you can put lipstick on a pig; it's still a pig," pictures Presidential candidate Barack Obama with a digitally imposed pig's nose and a poor lipstick job.
Dr. Bob Rosenthal, chair of the Communication and Journalism department, noticed the flyer hanging on a bulletin board in the Ridgeway building.
"Obviously freedom of speech is important, the First Amendment is important, but this is in incredibly poor taste," said Dr. Rosenthal. "It does nothing to further political debate."
Dr. Rosenthal also said that other Suffolk faculty expressed similar views.
In response to the uproar, President of the Suffolk College Republicans Jim Wilson said, "I don't see what is wrong with it. It's political satire. It's cheeky."
David DeAngelis, director of Student Activities, disagrees. "I'm looking at the flyer for the first time," he said. "It was approved [by Student Activities], but it is distasteful. I don't agree with it. I think they could have done something different than use a graphics program to publicly disgrace a candidate."
Dr. Rosenthal explained, "While we should debate and discuss political ideas, I think this is racist. We value diversity of opinions, but this is something that I'm really surprised to see at Suffolk."
In response to these accusations, Wilson said, "They've viewed this as some sort of racial issue. To me it's plain ignorance on the faculty's part. We do view this as a First Amendment issue."
Wilson said only two flyers were posted on campus yesterday. The club was planning to post several others later in the week, but are now reconsidering with advice from the Student Activities Office. He also said he is willing to speak with university faculty who are offended by the flyer.
Student Government Association President Brian LeFort, who has no affiliation with the College Republicans club, said, "They have their choice to put that out there. I guess that's what special interest groups are all about. They might get some resistance and definite opposition to the poster, but in terms of allowing clubs to do it, I think Suffolk University is a good institution in allowing many types of views and opinions to be expressed by their students."
The Suffolk College Republicans are planning to convene for a meeting this week to determine their next course of action.
"People should stand up for what they believe in," said Dr. Rosenthal. "But this is tasteless."

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