Syring: Know your rights, for your sake

By Kaitlin Syring

Monday, April 24, 2006

I’m sure we’ve all watched Jay Leno and seen random strangers on the streets asked questions and respond incorrectly when asked some of the simplest questions. We laugh and think, “Wow. I can’t believe they didn’t know that.”

When it comes to the rights guaranteed under the U. S. Constitution, however, the Leno scene is not too far from the truth.

How well do people know their rights? How well do students know their rights? Surprisingly and disappointingly, not very well. The most basic rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights are unknown to an overwhelming number of people.

The First Amendment, the foundation of our rights as citizens of the United States, is a second-rate issue to many students. A majority of students don’t know everything it entails, or, worse, believe it gives us too much protection. Ironic, is it not? According to MSNBC, when students were enlightened as to the exact text of the First Amendment, one in three thought the amendment went “too far” concerning the rights it guarantees, giving people too much leverage.

Hodding Carter III, president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, said that “these results are not only disturbing, they are dangerous.”

Lack of familiarity with your rights becomes a problem when dealing with any form of authority or law enforcement. We are taught at a young age that we should always be honest. While honesty is the best policy, you have the right to stay quiet when a police officer asks you questions. When they tell you, “Whatever you say can and will be used against you,” they mean it. You absolutely have the right to know the officer’s information, and should take note of the name and badge number.

We have to take full responsibility for our education and bills and an endless amount of other things as college students. More often than not, however, when dealing with authority figures, we are treated like we’re kids again. Everyone is entitled to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. This means you, as a student, have the right to be treated fairly by people in positions of authority. If you are in danger of being suspended from school, you have the right to know the exact charges that you are facing and you have the right to a hearing.

Bottom line: Knowing your rights is the utmost form of empowerment. Making yourself familiar with the Bill of Rights enables you to handle a lot of situations that get thrown your way. If you know the rights to which you are entitled, you have the power to stand up for yourself and make right a long line of wrongs.

Syring is a Salina sophomore in journalism.

House of headaches

/news/2005/mar/16/features_apartments_leases/

Osborne: How to get out of a ...

Here's what to do if you're caught.

/news/2006/feb/23/notice/

Editorial: Participation in election vital

Voting is an important part of the democratic process.

/news/2010/nov/01/editorial-participation-election-vital/

Robinson: Government expansions limits choices

New health care law will limit individual choice.

/news/2010/aug/30/robinson-government-expansions-limits-choices/

Don't be that guy

Does a sense of entitlement blind students to their poor behavior?

/news/2011/may/12/manual-dept-dont-be-guy-campus-students-etiquette/

Schlesener: Conceal carry shouldn't be allowed on ...

A current bill which would allow conceal carry on campus should be ...

/news/2012/feb/10/schlesener-conceal-carry-shouldnt-be-allowed-colle/

Student Senate dismisses senator, sends bill back ...

Full Student Senate met last night and dismissed one senator because of ...

/news/2007/nov/01/Notebook/

The first lady offers college survival tips

Michelle Obama shared with students at Georgetown University lessons that she learned ...

/news/2011/nov/09/michelle-obama-college-survival/

Q & A: Glozell Green

Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.

/news/2011/mar/10/q-glozell-green/

Student Senate in full swing

Members discuss funding, parliamentary procedures and other issues to tackle at their ...

/news/2011/sep/08/student-senate-holds-first-committee-meetings-scho/

Bond: Expand your mind in class, enlarge ...

Educational experience should take different religions in to account.

/news/2011/feb/09/bond-expand-you-mind-class-enlarge-your-faith-camp/

Amendment to expand University jurisdiction to off-campus ...

The amendment would allow the University to discipline students for off-campus issues.

/news/2012/feb/26/amendment-expand-university-jurisdiction-campus-fa/

How personal is your personal information?

Documents left behind after construction could leave students' private records vulnerable.

/news/2007/jul/25/how_personal_your_personal_information/

Home is Where the Fight Is

Going home can be a struggle, but it doesn’t have to be ...

/news/2007/apr/26/home_where_fight/

McLeod: T-shirt issue borders on censorship

Offensive or not, the “Muck Fizzou” shirt is still embodiment of student ...

/news/2007/oct/01/Censorship/

How picky is too picky?

The next time you end a relationship, make sure you do it ...

/news/2007/sep/21/picky/

Student Senate votes on several bills for ...

The session lasted two hours with the debates of fund distribution.

/news/2011/feb/24/student-senate-votes-several-bills-fund-use/

Career Center produces ‘Jayhawking’ video

Video modeled on ‘Tonight Show’ segment will highlight men’s basketball pre-game show.

/news/2009/jan/30/career_center_produces_jayhawking_video/

Morning Brew: The true meaning of No. ...

Many diehard fans insist that their team is the best, but what ...

/news/2011/jan/25/brew-true-meaning-no-1/

CITIZEN DOLPH: A rare look at the ...

You may not recognize his name, but Dolph Simons Jr., chairman of ...

/news/2006/apr/04/dolph/

University issued "red-light" for freedom of speech

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education gave Kansas and 260 other ...

/news/2011/oct/18/university-issued-red-light-freedom-speech/

Former President Bush to speak at KU

Nation’s 41st leader will speak at the Lied Center and will accept ...

/news/2008/nov/03/Bush/

Your boyfriend has crabs

/news/2005/aug/31/op_jorgensen/

Online gambling puts students in red

Matt Anderson was a freshman when he got involved in a habit ...

/news/2005/dec/06/online_gambling/

A new bill might expand the rights ...

With the approval of Student Senate, amendments to a students’ rights bill ...

/news/2012/mar/12/new-bill-might-expand-rights-students-living-unive/

Spring Break Countdown

Experts give advice on what to do to prepare for spring break

/news/2007/mar/08/spring_break_countdown/

A question of identity

The Comanche Nation informed KU that a professor who claims he's Comanche ...

/news/2008/may/02/question_identity/

Malicious Intimacy

Four students' experiences with domestic violence.

/news/2011/may/04/malicious-intimacy/

Editorial: Join Senate subcommittee to examine alcohol ...

Students should voice their opinion as members of the University.

/news/2009/sep/09/editorial_join_senate_subcommittee_examine_alcohol/

Q & A with Nikki Glaser

"Most comedians had to develop a thick skin for whatever reason."

/news/2009/feb/26/q/

Nichols: College start-ups gain popularity

The dorm room is the new nesting grounds for small businesses.

/news/2009/sep/08/nichols_college_startups_gain_popularity/

What to check before you rent

Steps tenants should take before signing a lease.

/news/2009/feb/26/what_check/

A guide to the proposed health care ...

A look at the health care bills that are being passed around ...

/news/2009/dec/03/news-health-care/

Looking at both sides of the scalp

The Athletics Department has begun to take legal action against ticket scalpers ...

/news/2008/jan/24/scalping/

Q&A with Congressman Kevin Yoder

Rep. Kevin Yoder, KU alumnus answers questions after a lecture at the ...

/news/2011/feb/21/q-congressman-kevin-yoder/

Editor's note

/news/2008/sep/25/editors_note/

Leaving a lasting legacy

As Hemenway prepares to retire, he and others look back at how ...

/news/2009/may/04/leaving_legacy/

bitch & moan

Students upmost sexual concerns

/news/2007/mar/15/bitch_moan/

Students to soldiers

Facing possible deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan after graduation, 81 University students ...