If we keep spreading the narrative that WashU is a place of suppression of expression, then yes, it will be a space of uncomfortable silence. We, the student body, have both passively and actively created that perceived reality for ourselves.

Author and law professor Nadine Strossen discussed the importance of free speech as the keynote speaker for Washington University’s “Reflections: Unity, Social Justice, and Peace” event in Graham Chapel Aug. 26.

In this country, there is a widely accepted notion that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and has a right to share it. The first right guaranteed in the Bill of Rights is that of free speech. As such, discussions in this country, political or otherwise, allow for everyone to contribute his or her thoughts and insights.

Dear Editor, Last week, Studlife elected to run an ad by the David Horowitz Freedom Center on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Several editorials opined on the subject, and stated that they believed the paper erred in doing such.

We have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the First Amendment, to ensure that it is not defiled as an idea. It’s just too bad that we live in the 21st century, in which things are just so tricky.

To protect freedom of religion, we need not stifle freedom of speech. A few weeks before the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Terry Jones, a relatively obscure but controversial pastor, shot to worldwide infamy over his pledge to burn the Quran.

I find it curious that people would want to burn Qurans, whether they agree with Islam, disagree with it, or are simply hateful in light of Sept. 11. Whatever the reason, to me the decision to burn a Quran is wrong. It also is curiously ironic.

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is one of the go-to stereotypes of uber-nerddom, along with mouth breathing, a lack of social skills and glasses thick enough to repel lasers. The image of geeky groups of pimply, reclusive geniuses sitting at home on a Saturday with manuals detailing the adventures of trolls and knights pervades pop culture.