Leon Foucault, in 1851, demonstrated unequivocally that the earth rotated about an axis. He was able to accomplish this by the use of a pendulum. Simply stated: since a pendulum is hung by a point and since a point is nondimensional (thus unable to be moved), where ever you place the pendulum, the earth will rotate beneath it. Imagine placing it at the north pole for instance. The pendulum will just swing back and forth in the same line over and over and the earth will rotate underneath it. But from earth it will look like the pendulum is swinging in a circle. There is a point (not just a random science factoid) to this: by understanding how laws work and what results to expect from various frames of reference the world becomes more comprehensible; it puts our whole world in perspective. In this sense, the booklet that has been generously been donated to us by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) does the same exact thing: it tells us simply what we can expect of our rights in college in order to make the whole experience more intelligible.
FIRE’s Guide to First-Year Orientation and Thought Reform on Campus (as it is called) has tons of information packed in easy-to-read language on such topics as “the Indispensable Right to Private Conscience,” “the Right of Association,” and “Speech Codes.” In a straightforward presentation of the rights of students, FIRE has been able to highlight specific instances, such as the West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette case, to broad ideals, such as the “freedom to disagree,” in discussing what ultimately we as students can do.
It also discusses the importance of why we are allowed to do what we are allowed to do. Because the times and tides both change, it becomes important to understand that we (or others) may be caught up in the maelstrom of popular thought. For instance, with the Barnette case of 1943, there was an intense desire to instill patriotism and love for America in children. And while the idea is nice, the school crossed the line when they forced students to pledge to the flag. By “seeing the strength of America in ‘individual freedom of mind’ rather than in ‘officially disciplined uniformity’” (9) the Supreme Court decided that a school had no right (regardless of the perils of the time) to compel a student towards a particular belief.
At root, this book discusses the importance not only of free speech, but more generally the freedom to think. “After all,” as FIRE points out, “the freedom to speak is a dead letter if one lacks the freedom to think, to believe, or to disbelieve. At the heart of American liberty lies a recognition of individual rights, individual responsibility, and individual dignity. Over one’s inner mind, conscience, and self, no one has coercive power” (2; emphasis added). This is what we (the libertarians) are all about and this is why we are so grateful that we are able to give you this booklet free of charge. Just find us and it’s yours.
“The pendulum of oppression usually swings, which is why it is so crucial to agree to protect individual rights not as a political tactic, but as a way of being human” (16). So, though we are the College Libertarians or Students for Liberty or whatever, we are first and foremost individuals with rights. We are also students. Students with rights. And we don’t care whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian, a Marxist, or even a dyed-in-the-wool Fascist, what this book talks about is more important than the distinctions we make between ourselves: it talks about the rights we all get. And by this one point, this simple booklet helps put our whole world in perspective.
FIRE’s Guide to First-Year Orientation and Thought Reform on Campus (as it is called) has tons of information packed in easy-to-read language on such topics as “the Indispensable Right to Private Conscience,” “the Right of Association,” and “Speech Codes.” In a straightforward presentation of the rights of students, FIRE has been able to highlight specific instances, such as the West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette case, to broad ideals, such as the “freedom to disagree,” in discussing what ultimately we as students can do.
It also discusses the importance of why we are allowed to do what we are allowed to do. Because the times and tides both change, it becomes important to understand that we (or others) may be caught up in the maelstrom of popular thought. For instance, with the Barnette case of 1943, there was an intense desire to instill patriotism and love for America in children. And while the idea is nice, the school crossed the line when they forced students to pledge to the flag. By “seeing the strength of America in ‘individual freedom of mind’ rather than in ‘officially disciplined uniformity’” (9) the Supreme Court decided that a school had no right (regardless of the perils of the time) to compel a student towards a particular belief.
At root, this book discusses the importance not only of free speech, but more generally the freedom to think. “After all,” as FIRE points out, “the freedom to speak is a dead letter if one lacks the freedom to think, to believe, or to disbelieve. At the heart of American liberty lies a recognition of individual rights, individual responsibility, and individual dignity. Over one’s inner mind, conscience, and self, no one has coercive power” (2; emphasis added). This is what we (the libertarians) are all about and this is why we are so grateful that we are able to give you this booklet free of charge. Just find us and it’s yours.
“The pendulum of oppression usually swings, which is why it is so crucial to agree to protect individual rights not as a political tactic, but as a way of being human” (16). So, though we are the College Libertarians or Students for Liberty or whatever, we are first and foremost individuals with rights. We are also students. Students with rights. And we don’t care whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian, a Marxist, or even a dyed-in-the-wool Fascist, what this book talks about is more important than the distinctions we make between ourselves: it talks about the rights we all get. And by this one point, this simple booklet helps put our whole world in perspective.
