Dear Editor,
In his recent letter, Steven Edwards wrote “The point is that you can’t have a society that values the free expression of ideas if, for those ideas to reach people, the public has to already value them so they can get the funds to express them.”
On the contrary, how individuals choose to spend their money is a form of free expression.
In addition to supporting causes they believe in, it is quite common for people to boycott what they do not approve of.
For instance, at one time it was common to test cosmetic products on animals.A large group of people boycotted the companies which did this and as a result, such testing rarely occurs anymore.
In the nineteenth century, abolitionists refused to purchase products such as cotton, silk and tobacco which were produced by slave labor in the South.
When The Simpsons was introduced on FOX a large group of people boycotted Burger King and other advertisers who gave their money in support of that show. As a result, Burger King withdrew thier commercial support of The Simpsons for a period of time.These are all examples of people using their money to express their views.
The argument that we should all be forced to fund campus activities whether we approve them or not is like saying that every student should be forced to give money to a church, because some students want it to be supported; or to a political candidate because some people on campus want them to be elected (this is how special interest groups get around campaign contribution laws).
By the same argument, we should be supporting lectures by the KKK and the supporters of terrorism.
Personally I would object to my college funds being spent on such speakers, just as I resent being expected to pay for concerts that I do not approve of and have no intention of attending.
We are not talking about censorship mandated by “parents, authorities and government watchdogs” here. This is individuals and personal choices.
Ludacris has the right to express his ideas all he wants, but other individuals such as the students at ETSU have the right to express their ideas as well. One way that individuals do that is by choosing when, where and how they spend their money.
Extracurricular events which are not required for attaining a degree are fine, but let those who choose to participate pay the cost. By being forced to pay for a concert whose performer I find morally incomprehensible, my right to free expression is being infringed.
Julie Dickey

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