University explains why newspaper was banned - some material was 'adult' reading
The University this afternoon listed the reasons why the Rector had banned the newspaper Ir-Realtà from campus.
It said that the Rector was advised that the article entitled 'Li Tkisser Sewwi' published in the penultimate page may constitute a violation the Press Act and the Criminal Code. There was no indication on the front cover or on the page containing the article that the material was ‘adult' reading.
The publication, it said, was distributed within the University of Malta precinct which was used not only by students and staff but also members of the public and their children - especially on the weekends. It was also distributed at the gates of Junior College where the students are minors.
"Had the contents been made clear to the University authorities before it was distributed, the University would have had a chance to check out the legal implications and, if appropriate, could have also made arrangements for it to be made available in some other less generalised manner," the University said.
It pointed out that the Education Act laid down that the Rector should take necessary measures to ensure that the law is upheld within the premises of the University of Malta, which falls within his responsibility.
Seven previous issues of the newspaper, were circulated and distributed with no problem.
"Whilst encouraging freedom of expression, freedom of the press and safeguarding rights of journalists, as happens in every parliamentary democracy, the Rector is obliged to consider the legal aspects which may affect the University and to protect underage visitors to campus from writing which is definitely for adult consumption only," the University said.
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m.MICALLEF
Nov 7th 2009, 15:40
With the Rector's silly excuse...they cant broadcast an AO movie on TV...as some children can see it....one can't sell an AO book as they might read it....BUT IN MY 1ST YR AT Junior College (MSIDA), WE DID A POEM NAMED INCEST THAT WAS MORE VULGAR THAN THIS NEWSPAPER...AND YET ITS NOT BANNED OR CENSORED, AS IT WAS NOT WRITTEN BY A UNIVERSITY STUDENT!! and yet the archbishop is feeling that religion is being censored!!!!
Muscat. Pat
Nov 7th 2009, 13:32
Call a spade a spade. This "autonomous" univiersity is the true reflection of the conservative government that we have! Autonomous univiersity my foot! The real rector at the university of "open minds" is the Chaplain. I thought that the time of Galileo.s Inquisition has passed; but in Malta it has not.
Roderick Micallef
Nov 6th 2009, 07:10
Amazing, is this the best example the rector can come up with? Can you tell us exactly how are you encouraging freedom of expression, freedom of the press and safeguarding rights of journalists in University?
You didn't even find a consensus to install a lousy condom machine with the blatant excuse that the University will not promote sex on campus, now one single article has once again caused havoc and controversy. To be honest this only shows that one thing is for certain, that a few people in the University are and will decide for every one else, now how democratic is that?
If the future professionals and leaders of the country are not capable to rebate and protest now I wonder what they will be doing in future, just now I am thinking of the crucifix issue in classrooms in another EU member state. What if EU passes a law and we would have to remove ours as well? Will we obey EU or will we disobey as our dear archbishop publicly said? Dear students, wake up, get together and protest for your own rights and don't let a few people drag your by the hair!
N. Bugeja
Nov 5th 2009, 23:34
Paul de Man's words are in order here. 'Childhood', he writes, 'is the awareness of a precarious condition of falling.'
For heaven's sake. Drop it now. Please.
Kenneth Cassar
Nov 5th 2009, 23:01
@ Helga Portanier:
"There definitely are ulterior motives and other forces lurking underneath".
You're on to something here. Does the recent taking away of Moviment Graffitti's office at the same university ring a bell?
M Saliba
Nov 5th 2009, 22:46
This is using legality to condition freedom of speech.
Will the internet at University be censored?
The rector considers legal action...."to protect underage visitors to campus from writing which is definitely for adult consumption only"....tell it to the marines.
I suggest that the University rector writes a letter to the editor of this paper airing his views, and lets all the students exercise their freedom of thought.
Jason Borg
Nov 5th 2009, 22:38
Kemm qeghdin sew! Kurcifiss fi klassi joffendi, imbaghad artiklu taparsi satiriku mimli kliem baxx u pastaz - dak le. Dak niddefenduh.
H zammit
Nov 5th 2009, 22:07
So to feel mature and open minded University students have to write about rubbish. . . and you call this progress and freedom of expression. Ha Ha. Don't they have anything better to do and write about.
The rector was absolutely right.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 5th 2009, 21:08
Oh come on, guys, let's be practical. If I were Rector, I wouldn't give any excuses!
M. Vella
Nov 5th 2009, 20:58
I too agree that they're coming up with excuses...RE: children running around and about on the University Campus I fully agree with what the previous commenter claimed. So now we can also ban copies of popular "obscene" magazine found e.g. on the Gozo ferry bookshop; where I bet there are more children crossing to Malta and/or Gozo rather than being on the University grounds. Re: copies distributed near Juniour College, ejja inkomplu ngezwru n-nies fit-tajjar ha naraw kemm inkunu effettivi
PS I did not read the banned material...
Kenneth Cassar
Nov 5th 2009, 18:59
The onus is on the university rector and/or the police to prove that any copies were sold or distributed to minors. After all, children enter newsagents' shops where adult magazines are sold.
What's more, unlike this newspaper, where one needs to read it to get the adult content, some magazines in newsagents' shops display explicit pictures on the front page of some magazines. I have yet to see a magazine banned just because children enter the shop where it is sold.
Now that this shameful episode has been exposed to the public, the Rector is seeking excuses.
Maria Zammit
Nov 5th 2009, 18:39
Thought... nah... university students are only allowed to be open minded about condoms!
adrian aquilina
Nov 5th 2009, 18:26
freedom of expression,thought in writting,clothing,body modification and lifestyles are not allowed in malta...living in the past???oh yes..university is a time for experimenting in order to find yourself and the lifestyle you are comfortable with..opening minds to many differant ways is what should be a priority..its religion that killed this country and an over conservative government
C Farrugia
Nov 5th 2009, 18:22
With internet being so easily and readily accessible....... I really wonder how anything like this can be the cause of such hype anymore!!
Muscat. Pat
Nov 5th 2009, 17:48
This is what the 60's looked like, with the "holier than brigade" bringing all sort of "moral" excuses, to crush freedom of speech. Unbelievable ! Maltese society is falling apart because of "realta" not because of the corruption within us! Is it possible that the "realta" author is personification of all that is decadent and corrupt in Malta? What hypocracy!
Jason Borg
Nov 5th 2009, 17:47
@ Robert Azzopardi - correct if I am wrong, but Universities do not promote "hamallagni" under the guise of free thought etc. Such publications should only be used as bin liners. What a waste of paper, ink and time!
N Zammit Alamango
Nov 5th 2009, 17:46
So university students are not adults ?
When are we going to start distinguishing between the writer and the narrator ?
Paul Caruana
Nov 5th 2009, 17:40
.....Talk about pathetic, lame excuses for censorship! And this in the supposedly intellectual centre of Malta.
Glorified secondary school, anyone?
My mistake....make that a glorified primary!
Helga Portanier
Nov 5th 2009, 17:33
If this was the sole reason for banning the newspaper, the appropriate response would have been that of giving a warning to the publishers and informing them about the limits and the requirements of the law. (although the laws in Malta on censorship need revision). Banning the entire publication is an overreaction. There definitely are ulterior motives and other forces lurking underneath. A more convincing argument is required.
J. Mifsud
Nov 5th 2009, 17:25
Now I know why university students, or the majority, act as toddlers, and their only interest are the stipends - because they are treated as children by their elders!!!
Andrew Gatt
Nov 5th 2009, 17:19
One word sums this up........can't actually write it, but it refers to the solid waste products of male cattle.
Anthony Farrugia
Nov 5th 2009, 17:17
Excuse me, but are we speaking about a kindergarten or the University where supposedly Malta's future leadrers in all fields be it politics, law ,medicine etc etc are formed and taught to think for themselves ,form their own opinions and not study by rote and by borrowing previous years'notes from their predecessors!!
M Axisa
Nov 5th 2009, 17:15
It actually explains why our University manages with alarming continuity to turn out non thinking morons who can see no further then their nose and whose intellectual activities go no further than their coming weekend. Where are the thinkers,the inventors,the artists without which we might as well be living in some backwater?. Shame on a university which strangles free thought and expression and delights in numbers of students rather than excellence.
John Micallef
Nov 5th 2009, 17:12
I think it was for 'foolish adult reading', as it was written like a 10 year old would do it to impress his friends with his swearing & saying bad language words!!
If this is the type of writters that our university is delivering pull the handbrake now!!! We have a serious problem
It's not the quantity but the quality that counts.
Robert Azzopardi
Nov 5th 2009, 16:51
Correct me if I'm wrong but are we not talking about a tertiary education institution here, and correct me if I'm wrong again but shouldnt this be an institution that promotes thought and the experimentation of one's opinion, ideology and framing and building of one's perspective, or is it Malta were you are supposed to think and believe what you are fed without given the opportunity to grow and formulate your own ideas??? I believe that this is an insult to the University's and Junior College's students' (the future leaders and major movers of our society) intellects! Shame.
Marylu Alosia d'Agostino
Nov 5th 2009, 16:51
That explains it all . . . . NOT!!!!
leonardo vince
Nov 5th 2009, 16:37
Now all things are falling in their appropriate slot. I always reiterated that our university students are treated and act as silly children!!!!!!!!!!!!