Letter from the editor: Obscenity column raises questions

By Ryan Schneider

Monday, July 2, 2007

The guest column that appeared in Wednesday’s University Daily Kansan, “Government shouldn’t control public’s intake of profanity,” certainly sparked discussion in the newsroom.

Taylor Miller’s column made an interesting point that the government shouldn’t have control over what profanity people are exposed to.

For me, the column raised the issue of the role journalists — and newspapers in particluar — play in the obscenity discussion. For example, should The Kansan not print obscenity in the paper at all or only on the opinion page or in Free for All?

The answer to speech restriction questions aren’t easy to answer. Especially on this page, people should feel free to speak their minds. However, The Kansan has the right to determine what part of Free for All comments, letters to the editor and guest columns appear in print.

The answer is simply that there isn’t one. Decisions about obscene language are made on a case-by-case basis — and that’s the way it should be. Just as Miller said in his column, decisions about obscentiy in society should be left to the people, not to the government.

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