When the Student Body voted in the recent elections to keep the independently owned newspaper racks on campus, senators from the Students Party aimed to reinforce this decision with a resolution in Senate.
However, the Swamp Party responded to the outcome of the election with disregard, killing the resolution.
The heart of the Swamp Party argument against independent newspaper racks revolved around the publication The Independent Florida Alligator. It would be a shame, they claimed, if this publication got preferential treatment.
However, if they actually read the Senate resolution or the referendum that appeared on the student ballot this Fall, they would know this is in defense of all publications, not just the Alligator.
Why does the Swamp Party side with the administration on this issue? Perhaps it has to do with the bad press they received before they changed their name this semester.
Senate leaders and high profile members of the then-Unite Party were caught throwing away hundreds of copies of newspapers endorsing the Students Party last Spring. Unite standard-bearers responded with denial and accused the Alligator of racism.
Perhaps it has to do with a more general governing philosophy. In response to the Students Party nearly securing the student presidency, the other side passed through campaigning reforms that severely restricted political speech and ability to organize.
The interpretation of the new rules was used to send myself and other party members before the Elections Commission to face disqualification. Clearly, it was not successful.
This is an academic institution, and we are Americans. We should protect the free flow of information on campus, not seek to impose restrictions or fees on student publications.
We must protect the right of newspapers to remain fully independent, resisting any effort of administrators or Student Government to gain leverage over them, and recognize that it was not long ago in our university history that censorship of student publications was a reality.
It is easy to become cynical when our leaders disregard our concerns, but I urge students to remember that they wield power. Otherwise, what would be the point of censorship?
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” — Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Ford Dwyer
Students Party senator
UF history and political science senior
