Harassment Policy Limits Freedom

   In a recent letter ["Harassment Guidelines Protest Free Expression,"
   Nov. 19], Bill Baker stated that the harassment guide actually
   protects free speech. He is wrong both in principle and in practice.
   
   The harassment guide states that "verbal behavior" which creates an
   "offensive" environment is harassment. Elsewhere it states that
   harassment is punishable. Hence, offensive verbal behavior (hurting
   someone's feelings) is punishable. So much for protecting free speech
   in principle.
   
   In a study break to "discuss harassment issues" held in Senior House
   two days after Dealing with Harassment at MIT burning that occurred
   there, a campus police officer, an administrator, and the house master
   each explicitly affirmed that there were certain remarks "that you
   just can say" and that you will be punished for. And these
   pronouncements are being verified all across campus by having
   individual students "talked to" by house masters and administrators in
   discussions where they are told that they had better watch their
   mouths, or else. So much for protecting free speech in practice.
   
   Let there be no mistake, the harassment policy, both in its
   formulation and its application, militates against the freedom of
   expression.
   
   Nick Cassimatis '94
   

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Copyright 1993 by The Tech. All rights reserved.
This story was published on  Tuesday,  November 23, 1993.
Volume  113, Number 60
The story was printed on page  7.
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