As an institute of higher learning, KU believes that the freedom for a student to express him or herself is paramount to the development of a diverse and educated mind. That is, until the student wears an almost vulgar T-shirt on national television. In numerous repeat offenses freedom of student speech has undergone scrutiny, questioning exactly how far that freedom extends. Campuses around the U.S. are addressing the same question that KU now must ask itself: how much censorship is too much?

Last week College Republicans at Colorado State University called for the resignation of the campus paper’s editor-in-chief because he published a column entitled, “Taser This: F--- Bush” on the opinion page as a response to the Tasering of a University of Florida student. The blatant “F--- Bush” free speech stunt was harshly criticized by conservative students at CSU. Businesses that invested in the college paper have already pulled more than $30,000 worth of advertisements, afraid of bad publicity.

In 2004 a stink was raised at Texas A&M about a T-shirt that read “F#%k John Kerry.” (Spelling and use of expletives is correct.) The plaintiff’s argument was based on the accusation that the shirt promoted rape.

True, wearing suggestively vulgar shirts isn’t classy, but it is a tradition in sports rivalries. Other popular versions of the shirt include “Wuck Fazzu,” “Muck Fichigan” and “Tuck Fexas.” Those shirts are simply stating an opinion that “I Hate _____” wouldn’t do justice for.

Mizzou sells a T-shirt with an upside-down Jayhawk on the front, and above it is written “Flip the Bird.” Should ESPN be concerned that even though the shirt isn’t actually flipping off KU, it is still suggesting the offensive action?

It is foolish and reprehensible for the University itself to condemn the Muck Fizzou shirts, taking a dangerous step down the slippery slope of violating students’ First Amendment rights. Censorship is designed to protect people from potentially harmful slurs that would directly incite riots or violent behavior, directly provoke discrimination and directly offend mass groups of people. It is not, however, designated as the baby-sitter, putting children in time-out for having a potty mouth.

Should we start wagging our fingers at every potentially offensive thing printed on a T-shirt or in a newspaper? Should we not be allowed to wear anything controversial when there is a possibility of being on national TV? Or maybe the parking department could take on the additional task of ticketing people who utter any sort of fighting words.

Case in point, students should be able to wear what they want, provided that any sort of message stays within the protectable boundary of the constitution. The University knows that, and should be fighting to keep it that way instead of fighting to keep the athletic department’s revenue flowing from ESPN ads and publicity. Muck you, ESPN. Leave my T-shirt alone.

McLeod is an Overland Park senior in journalism and Middle Eastern Studies.