Vol. 88 Issue 39
November 9, 2010
Bayside sells out
House of Blues in Anaheim The pop-punk rock band delivers an exciting highenergy performance for attendees
See BAYSIDE, page 6
Top five court cases
involving First Amendment online
Internet media law developments that have shaped virtual freedom of speech. See ORDER, page 3
WHAT’S INSIDE OPINION Why young Americans should vote ........................................5 DETOUR Professor of illustration Cliff Cramp designs album cover ........................................7 SPORTS International flavor ready to help men’s basketball ......................................10
dailytitan.com The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
STEPHEN SLY / For the Daily Titan
U.S. CONSTITUTION FIRST AMENDMENT Bullying on the Internet turns deadly Harassment takes on a virtual form, provoking a wave of teen suicides ASHLEY LOERA For the Daily Titan
For one New Jersey college freshman, it was a webcam video of his sexual encounter with another boy that led him to jump from a bridge. For a 15-year-old girl in Massachusetts, it was the constant outpouring of words like “slut” and “whore” all over her Facebook page, even after her tragic hanging. And for a middle school girl in St. Louis, it was the taunting words of a boy on MySpace that led to her suicide, only to find out that a mother had made up the boy’s profile to avenge her daughter. “I feel like when things happen like this we think about it and say, ‘we’re going to change’ and then we never do,” said Katie Claburn president of Cal State Fullerton’s Queer Straight Alliance. See CYBER, page 2
Campus policies to freedom of speech First Amendment rights will be tested when Westboro Baptist Church pickets theater production STEPHANIE RAYGOZA Daily Titan
People across the country exercise their right to freedom of speech on a daily basis whether it is at a small campus march or at a large-scale controversial protest. First Amendment rights are championed at Cal State Fullerton. However, many students are unaware of certain limitations under the university’s policies. On Nov. 13, the Westboro Baptist Church will be picketing against a theater performance based on the tragic life of Matthew Shepard called The Laramie Project. The church is sure to stir commotion on campus and lead to various counter protests from students and faculty. The student handbook clearly states’ a student First Amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly. Publicly assembling to demonstrate support for or opposition to causes and candidates is a part of the right guaranteed to all students. “For democracy to work, ideas have to be able to sink or swim on their own and speech helps everyone find the ideas that work best
Contact Us at news@dailytitan.com
for them and for the country,” said Genelle Belmas, associate communications professor. The policy additionally states that CSUF is barred from controlling campus facilities to prevent free speech. There is no direct reference or implications of free speech zones. When there are circumstances that affect the community at large however, the university has set policies that limit the extent of free speech for the
protection of others. The regulations pertain to rallies, public meetings and performances, which happen to be the most popular settings where students gather to express the freedom of speech. Space for any of the events mentioned above held in an exterior location or indoors must be scheduled through the Dean of Students Office. Demonstrations are not to be conducted in classrooms, offices or reception areas, which limits
them to public outdoor settings. Sociology major Michelle Llamas participated in the protests on campus against budget cuts and has seen the consequences of the church’s actions. “I despise the views and actions of the church and hope that students come out in large numbers to show how hateful their beliefs are,” Llamas said. “I plan on definitely speaking my mind against their picketing and they deserve to get the unwelcoming treatment that will be coming to them.” Earlier this year, the student body protested against budget cuts by marching down Titan Walk and throughout campus in an effort to bring forth government action. With rallying and protesting being limited to essentially outside areas, the extent of freedom of speech on campus appears to be less than abundant. The presence of the Westboro Baptist Church will test the university’s handling of free speech for and against controversial protest groups. Belmas advocates free speech of both parties involved and feels that the church should not be banned from protesting.
JENNIFER CHUNG / Daily Titan
See SPEECH, page 5
Drug lords’ control of news media Mexican drug cartels determine the type of information released KAREN DICKINSON Daily Titan
While American reporters must consider whether stories could be classified libelous under a court of law, Mexican reporters must decide whether their stories are more important than their families. Instead of reporters, it appears as if Mexican drug lords are the ones who control the flow of information that reaches the public. “(Mexico) is the second most dangerous country to be a reporter in because so many crimes are against the news media,” said Miguel Angel Larre Lapuente, Televisa reporter. Cartel power has its roots in the early years of the Institutional Revolutionary Party administration. See DRUG, page 2