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NEWS

The Norwich Guidon
April 29, 2004

Students voice opinions about Howard Stern's FCC woes

By Danielle Meunier
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Sexually explicit material, an unbending belief in the freedom of speech, and an ego that spans nationwide are the recipe.

Sun glasses and long, black curly hair make up the physical persona.

"Shock Jock" is the culminating descriptive of the above ingredients. Fined for 18 violations of the federal decency rules, shock jock Howard Stern's talk show has been suspended by Clear Channel Communications for vulgar and offensive material.

As a result of Stern's syndicated morning show, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking at their rules of indecency, and people around the nation are questioning our rights to freedom of speech.

The controversy over freedom of speech and decency has elicited strong feelings of many students on the Norwich University campus.

"With the whole Janet Jackson thing, there has been more pressure put on the media from the FCC to censor things out," said Luke Yustin, 19, a sophomore history major from Bridport, Vt.. "It's a violation of our first amendment rights."

"If you threaten someone with 'if you say this, we will do this', you are removing their freedom," said Wyatt Wells, 21, senior Biology major from Hague, N.Y.. "People are going to stop calling in to voice their opinions on public radio, and it's going to block their freedom of speech."

"The great thing about this country is we're supposed to say what we want in an atmosphere where we can say what we want without being judged," Yustin said. "The government now is coming in and saying, if you say this, you're going to get a fine."

"It also gives the radio station more money, because it's more publicity for the station," said Mike Davis, 23, a senior communications major from Passumpsic, Vt. "As soon as Howard Stern gets back on the air, it will mean higher ratings."

At Norwich's own WNUB radio station, there have been issues with indecency on the air, as well, showing that the problem isn't just something for major stations and companies to deal with. Davis had a semester of radio production and never worried about what he put out on the air. He played his music and was "who you are on the air."

"I was just playing music that sounded good; I never thought of the consequences," Davis said. "I don't think this would make me think about the consequences."

"People have already gotten in trouble, this year, for things they've said," Davis said. "I think that would make me more wary, because it's closer to home."

The division between a small radio show and a syndicated show varied in people's views concerning censorship.

"If people find it offensive, they shouldn't listen to the radio station," said Ashley Reed, 19, a freshman nursing major from St. Johnsbury, Vt.

"People listen to get offended," Wells said of the listeners of shock jock shows. "There are other stations out there that won't offend you."

"I don't take offense to it," Yustin said. "I think anyone who would take offense to it is ridiculous; it's just someone saying something on the radio to get a rise out of someone."

"I wonder what [the FCC] is going to go after next," Wells said. "It's like when Microsoft gets sued. It's not a big deal that a computer company got sued; it's a big deal that Microsoft got sued."

"If it were someone on the local station, I don't think it would be getting the attention that it is," Yustin said.

Regardless of the passion involved with the freedom of speech issue, the U.S. Senate is currently dealing with an indecency bill that would make "air personalities, artists, guests, and even callers to talk shows" responsible for indecent material on the air, said the Friday Morning Quarterback website (www.fmqb.com). The possibility of stricter rules leaves people wondering what the radio will be like in a few years.

"People aren't going to want to listen to the radio if the rules are going to be so strict," Reed said. "I don't think it will accomplish anything other than the public getting angry with the government, again," Yustin said. "With the Patriot Act, people are getting more disenchanted with the government."

"We're so caught up with worrying about hurting people's feelings that we're letting important matters go by the wayside," Yustin said. "We can be punished for what we think and what we say; everyone is supposed to be entitled to their own opinions and supposed to be able to express them."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.