In the past two weeks, the Emerald has received considerable feedback about our editorial concerning KUGN-AM calling itself “the voice of the Ducks,” while broadcasting syndicated talk shows by hosts that engage in speech that is harmful to specific populations in the community. After reading much of the feedback, it seems that a clarification is in order.
Our editorial did not call for censorship, as we don’t believe Savage’s and Medved’s shows should be forced off the air. This is not a case of a government agency withholding funds from an organization because it disagrees with the organization’s politics. It’s a different matter when a government agency accepts money from an organization and allows that organization to represent it in public — when the organization’s behavior violates the agency’s stated principles.
By disassociating with KUGN, the University would not be withholding money in an attempt to censor, it would be upholding its mission.