It’s been THE topic of conversation at Utah State University for several days now as well as making the pages of the New York Times and the airwaves of NPR: After learning that USU was legally forbidden from restricting firearms at a Wednesday lecture over which she received a death threat, nationally-known feminist writer and video game critic, Anita Sarkeesian, canceled her appearance. (SLTrib) She says she won’t appear at a Utah school until guns are barred from the state’s campuses.
Rep. Curt Oda says she’s overreacting and says that he wants to further strengthen gun rights by reinforcing Utah law allowing open carrying of guns on Utah’s college campuses. Students and faculty gathered Wednesday at USU to promote free speech and condemn threats against Sarkeesian.
Tuesday on Access Utah we’ll open the phone lines to see what you think. In this clash of the 1st and 2nd Amendments, where do you think the balance should be set? Should Utah change its gun laws? How best to ensure safety and free expression on Utah’s college campuses? What about Sarkeesian’s message opposing how women are portrayed in video games?
Our guests will include Ann Austin, Director of the USU Center for Women and Gender; and USU Journalism and Communication faculty members, Candi Carter Olson and Matt Laplante.
