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Friday, April 20, 2018

Fresno State Can Fire Randa Jarrar

Much is made out of people arguing that no matter what you say and do you are protected by the first amendment and the right to free speech.

I completely agree that people have the right to say what they want and except in very rare occasions you can not be criminally charged for that free speech.

However with that said, you still can and should face consequences for what you say if your employer finds that what you say or do is damaging to the organization as a whole.

In the case of Randa Jarrar, she has a right to say everything that she said.  However I do think that she can be held liable for posting the phone number to the Hot line.  She can bash the Bush family all she wants and feel free doing so.  However Fresno has the right to discipline her right up to and including termination for actions detrimental to the University.

I always find these cases to be so interesting in who sides with what side in these things.  A group known FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) and of course the ACLU side with Jarrar.

Many of the people supporting this hate filled tirade are the same people who will hold marches and civil discord if the shoe is on the other foot.  It isn't free speech if Ben Shapiro wants to speak at Concordia Moorhead Campus.  It's not free speech for Ann Coulter to speak at Berkeley.

The difference in this case is that Jarrar made hate filled and very controversial comments in a public forum.  Those comments may cost her employer financially and can be detrimental to her employer.  She does have every right to voice her personal feelings, but her employer has every right to discipline her. 

Students at City University of New York School of Law have a whole different feeling about the First Amendment.  One student summed up their feelings in 3 words "Fuck the law!" he shouted.  Of course they were referring to Conservatives having the right to free speech.  I am willing to bet the farm that they are in full support of Jarrar. 

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