"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR OF THE PRESS."
For those in the Tufts Feminist Alliance (TFA) members who are unfamiliar with the preceding quotation, it was taken directly from the First Amendment of the US Constitution. I feel it necessary for someone in the Tufts community to respond to the TFA's recent claims against Delta Tau Delta's (DTD) advertisement choices last month.
It is true that DTD's posters may have been tasteless, and they may even have been ignorant. However, the social "statements" aided by these posters are also fervently protected by the document quoted above.
I would probably agree that DTD used poor judgement in choosing to try and lure potential rushes with pictures of scantily clad women. In fact, I am unclear as to what message they were attempting to send. Yet, what I do know is that the TFA crossed the line in accusing the fraternity of contributing to violence against women and "rape culture."
Unfortunately, the consequences of such accusations by the TFA are likely to have the opposite effect of those that the TFA was most likely hoping for. The accusation of rape in any context is a claim that should be taken very seriously at all times. While it is likely that the TFA was hoping to strike a chord within the community by throwing this word around, the group fails to recognize the detrimental effects on their own mission such an accusation has.
The more often people use the word "rape" in situations as these, where it is clearly inappropriate, the less seriously it will be taken in a time of serious need. I understand that DTD's posters offended the TFA, but mere offense does not warrant the claim that these posters contributed to "rape culture."
During such a critical time for the fight for women's rights on an international level, it is unfortunate that the TFA has opted to use its resources so poorly. I would like to think that campus organizations are designed to help make a difference, and the TFA could do so by working to raise awareness regarding the truly violent atrocities being committed against women in Afghanistan.
Perhaps if advertising is an issue that TFA would like to take up, why not hold a forum on the abundance of alcohol, cigarette, and clothing ads that use sex and sexual references to sell products?
Unfortunately, this organization has chosen to pick a much smaller fight. What the TFA must understand is that, while the First Amendment does protect DTD's rights to make these "statements," it does not protect it's own right to be shielded from offensive material.
If the TFA wants to be considered a true liberal organization, it must understand one thing. The beauty of one's freedom of speech is that it protects all and cannot be compromised simply because a comment is not in good taste. I hope that with this understanding, the TFA will re-prioritize its goals and will begin to use its resources to truly make a difference, rather than continue attempting to fight un-winnable battles.
Harris Dainoff is a senior majoring in political science.
