David McSwane is the editor of Colorado State's Student Newspaper The Collegian. In response to the editorial statement saying tersely, "Taser this: FUCK BUSH", his position as Editor has been threatened. I emailed him yesterday and got a response, which said emails should be sent today to Jeff Browne, Student Media Director, and addressed to the Board of Student Communications. His email address is: jbrowne@lamar.colostate.edu.
Please send an email in support of David's position as Editor! More background, including the incredible story of what Mr. McSwane did in high school to expose illegal practices performed by military recruiters, can be found at markthshark's diary from a few days ago. My letter is below the flip.
To the Board of Student Communications-
I would like to express my support for the actions of the Editorial Board of your university's student newspaper, The Collegian. On behalf of freedom of speech and in the face of a media united against such expression, Editor in Chief David McSwane and the Editorial Board had the courage to challenge the cultural climate in which we Americans reside. Our system of government presupposes that, in the event of an existential threat, it is the people who must stand up in the spirit of Democracy and challenge the powers that be. A government that tortures, tasers, and lies across subject matter and with no end because they fundamentally do not believe in our system of government must be challenged at any cost.
The infusion of color in a grey world is essential. Creative, critical, open-minded thinking is one of the most important things one can get from a college education, and the terse editorial statement in The Collegian is a proud statement of such liberty.
I happily support Editor in Chief J. David McSwane's standing, and additionally would offer some money to The Collegian on his/the Editorial Board's behalf. Please let me know if a fund is created to support any losses the newspaper may be suffering due to a reduction in large-scale advertisement.
I suggest your university set up an online fund where anyone can donate money to your cause. There is a lot of support out there and small donations could do a lot to restore the budget of your newspaper should there be a need.
Again, I applaud the actions of the Editorial Board of The Collegian, and hope that Mr. McSwane will remain editor.
Sincerely,
(Me)