Occidental College in Los Angeles fired Jason Antebi, the student host of a popular student radio program for, among other transgressions of political correctness, disrespecting diversity. (Hat Tip to Joanne Jacobs)
In response to Antebi’s biting on-air satire, three students filed sexual harassment complaints against him in March 2004. Two of his accusers were student government rivals who had unsuccessfully tried to have him recalled from office on different grounds earlier in the year. In their complaints, the offended students claimed that Antebi’s show promoted “disrespect and slander” against “women, diversity, and Occidental College” and thus constituted a form of punishable “hostile environment” harassment.
“Disrespect” for “diversity” gets you taken off the air at Occidental? It sounds like the college itself is a “hostile environment” for free speech.
What is pretty upsetting about all of this is that the only show that they actually listened to, we didn’t discuss diversity. We had a segment called “Token Black Girls” where we would, actually, mock tokenism, and seriously discuss racial issues on campus. The title, to them, was racist — the school’s lawyer was yelling at me claiming I was a racist and that “token” is an unprotected racial slur. If only she listened to the show… She later claimed that I had fired two student government managers because they were black, and mocked them on the radio show (she, actually says I named the segment to mock them). Her lies are pretty easy to point out since the segment was created about a month before the managers were fired, and she fails to point out that I have no authority to fire managers. It’s disgusting what the college did, and I recommend a viewing of http://www.thefire.org‘s letters to the college.
thanks for the support,
Jason Antebi
It’s not easy for me to believe that a radio show featuring Mr Antebi referring to his college as a “c-nt” and his mother as a “wh-re” (at least according to the ACLU letter in his support) was going to ‘seriously discuss’ any issues whatsoever. But that isn’t a requirement of free speech. I’m just a little disappointed that such a show would be popular. I’m also a little surprised the Administration didn’t claim they were saving themselves from FCC indecency fines.
That said, I was younger once… although now that I think about it, I was rather more prudish then. I didn’t take up cursing until I was a high school teacher.
Anyway, the Oxy administration is totally wrong. FIRE looks like a great group and, as they point out, comprises free speech supporters from across the political spectrum.
I seem to recall that a student government is a requirement for accreditation. I wonder what ever could be in the college’s regulations that permits it to be prorogued in this fashion? (Likely, nothing.)
[Note: I am not too prudish to spell out cuss words; I just don’t want this site indexed on them, and moreover roboblocked by filters.]
Andrew,
I read over all the documents. No where does it say that Jason used vulgarity on the radio show. The “c-nt” you are reffering to did not occur on air and was written in his journal, used in a hyperbolic and joking way.
As far as I can tell, there were no FCC violations (I work in radio). I’ve also emailed him and spoke to him about it and it turns out the show is ONLINE, and not regulated by the FCC.
What the college did was wrong and I hope this kid sues their pants off.
Brian, the first FIRE letter says: “Among the aspects of Mr. Antebi’s [radio] shows that the students complained about were Mr. Antebi’s insults of his own mother[&hellip]”. I assume that should be cross-referenced with the specific insults he made towards his mother, that are enumerated in the ACLU letter.
However, you’re correct that the reference to the college as female genitalia was on a blog. I didn’t find it especially clever there either, and I remain deeply skeptical that Mr Antebi is interested in deep, meaningful discussions of the issues. (I hold similar misgivings about Messrs Hannity and Limbaugh, and for that matter Moore.)
As far as the legality of the college’s actions, I agree with you 10000%. I don’t think the judge will see a difficult case here.
I don’t know, the “socialism peddling c” is kind of funny, but I like that type of stuff.
We should get this kid a lawyer! :)
This kid is pretty sharp! Unfortunately, he’s not politically correct enough for me.
Be assured that a vote for me is a vote for total political correctness. The Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Mao’s China, and Pol Pot’s Cambodia will have nothing on american society under my presidency. Guaranteed.