University urged to lift newspaper ban

A. Micallef

Dec 12th 2009, 01:39

I am a young ex university student. I'm sorry but this article cannot be considered as art or literature.I have read the article in question. I don't agree that it's about the majority of youths. Although the female in the article is understood to be the partner in the sex intercourse described, the language with which this is described is very degrading and should I say disgusting. The way he describes his lust and insatiable sexual appetite in obscene language reduces the female to a sex object. He implies that females are of lesser intelligence and are to be used for sexual gratification. Yes, it's disgusting, crude and misogynistic.
Apart from the fact that it's clearly stated that these partners are underage foreign students. The way he engages in sex also borders on the implication of rape.. as the female is shown as unwilling in some of the sexual activity.

I think that the language used was out of context in the sense that it was purely used to shock the reader and for no other reason. I'm sorry but I could not see the writer's scope of the article.

Karl Farrugia

Dec 11th 2009, 06:28

I believe that the point of the story on Ir-Realta' was specifically written instill a sense of disgust and hatred towards ignorant and horrible people portrayed in the story, which, if my memory doesn't fail me, consist of sex offenders/traffickers. Certainly, these kind of people don't roam about the country being gentle and polite, and the story captures in perfectly. People with more than a handful of braincells should have gotten this after a couple of lines. It exposes these people for what they are.
However this story happens to expose something completely different... the stupidity of the Maltese populace, the short-sightedness involved at discussing the things which really do not matter.
It has instilled a sense of disgust in me, but for the latter rather than the former character.

Raymond Camilleri

Dec 10th 2009, 21:40

Giov De Martino Yes ok students were bullied, controlled and beaten in the 70s and 80s. Does that mean that nobody can now say anything about anyone and anything that happens in 2009? What arrogance! Your partisan defence of anything even remotely related to the PN (because there is a very weak relation to PN here, if there is any at all!) at all costs verges on the ridiculous.... and your concept of freedom is from the stone age!

J. J. Borg

Dec 10th 2009, 18:04

G. De Martino: how right you are. Truly some people have no sense of decency.

GiovDeMartino@Victo Laiviera

Dec 10th 2009, 17:46

What did YOU say? Freedom of speech and human rights? YOU YOU YOU? Freedom of speech and human rights. Ask those university students of the 70's and 80's. Freedom of speech and human rights? YOU!!

P Attard

Dec 10th 2009, 16:34

One may be tempted to think that there is censorship across the board in Malta after reading some reactions in this blog. Actually the reactions are a tiny indication of the freedom of expression just as the various publications, radio and television shows clearly show every single day. Possibly one may think of the abuse of freedom of expression. One may strongly object to the content of the article in Realta' and Stitching. And one may actually question whether they are are and / or literature. The Rector was right in drawing the attention of the authorities concerned regarding the potential breaking of the law and the negative impact on students. Freedom of expression has its limits. Open minds need not be receptacles of rubbish, blasphemes, vulgarities and obscenities. I am not be surprised that a small percentage of university students in celebrating their recent graduation felt they had the right to insult people, blaspheme in public, use vulgar language and utter obscenities, in certain places attacking innocent people and throwing cans of beer as well as intruding in other educational institutions. Possibly this small percentage has been influenced by the obscenities, vulgarities and blasphemies being considered art and literature.

Joe Micallef

Dec 10th 2009, 16:19

I am against censorship because it inhibits the publication of such trash! I am also against censorship because I believe that a person with average intelligence can see the trash that is in this piece, which tries to mask its pettiness with poetic licence that is miles away from any aspirations the author may have!......And therefore I am against censorship because such authors end up being glorified rather then lambasted by all.

Marylu Alosia d'Agostino

Dec 10th 2009, 16:15

Well argued, AD!

Sandro Agius

Dec 10th 2009, 15:56

I cannot understand Alternattiva Demokratika. Can they accept that provocative and offensive words that are written in that paper? I read some verses from it from a local newspaper online were there was a shot of one of the pages of Realta and what I read, offended me because there were written offensive words against Our Lady and God...(kliem hazin imqieghed mal-Madonna biex niftiehem) which maybe its truly used by some Maltese but still offensive against Christianity. Why don't they insult there mother or father, there sisters or brothers, or there deaths and leave our faith in peace.

That is not freedom of speech, but blashphemy against Christianity. University merits a much more higher standard of writings so to make the world better, instead of insulting others beliefs. If the University lift the ban than University will loss its credibility.

A.A. Hussain

Dec 10th 2009, 15:48

Mr. Galea L, Igalea - can you make an effort to look at efforts, policies, events, projects, and developments pusued and implemented by this administration in this country in a more positive, optimistic and constructive way???...to my mind, no government in this world gets all wrong, or nothing right.. in all cases, something, somehow, will work and bring results... let alone in a country that has certainly developed, in many ways, during the past decades....whether under MLP, or PN...

A Vella

Dec 10th 2009, 15:44

@I. Cilia & co.

Hi. I am a university student and you are right - all I care about is sex and obscenities. And I hope every other person reading this will follow your lead and punish us accordingly. We are bad and we deserve every ounce of criticism.

thanks!

Victor Laiviera

Dec 10th 2009, 15:20

Anybody who values freedom of speech will support this call. Unfortunately, there are many who say they believe in this human right - but then you find that they only believe in it as long as what is published has their approval

MBorg

Dec 10th 2009, 15:14

" Universities should always be at the forefront of freedom of speech in literature, the arts and political opinion "

So now are to have a special law for anything that is published at university ? No sir, the university forms part of Malta and it will be groverned by the same laws. No university publication or author is above the law.

A story ,if you can call the said piece a rubbish a story, full of blasphemy can never be called a work of art. Freedom of speech does not give anybody the right to write any amount of filth in the name of " art " and get away with it just because it is written on a university newspaper. The author must have wanted to shock people with what he wrote, however he went over the limit. The rector was right to ban the newspaper.

Mat Deplume

Dec 10th 2009, 14:37

University students are smart enough to choose what to study, but not smart enough to choose what to read ? That's why we need censorship ?

I think controlling the media is an insult to university students.

Ramon Casha

Dec 10th 2009, 14:34

This ban is proof enough that the laws in question need to be fixed. They make about as much sense in today's world as a law concerning the price of slaves at the village market.

Galea. L

Dec 10th 2009, 14:30

Obscene publications and condom machines on campus.
Are our students attending University to study or to learn to obscenities and have sex?
Well done Rector.

Stephen Farrugia

Dec 10th 2009, 13:56

The fact that AD are making this request is just not correct or fair because their are a lot of other cases.

Another point, why are AD saying nothing about the MEP election expenses ?

I. Cilia

Dec 10th 2009, 13:56

i have just read this article since i found it online...

frankly my impression is that the rector was being a bit of a prude after censoring such a publication..

but after reading it i can only say one thing... well done rector...

frankly you cannot even say those words in public since i believe it is a criminal offence let alone write them...

i agree with the message but this article lacks finesse, one could have said the same thing in a much better and artistic way...

I cannot understand how people can write such rubbish and then invoke art as an excuse..

and frankly i think the police are right in questioning the editor for having allowed this... after all such blasphemy is a criminal act in Malta if you say it let alone if it is printed and distributed..

J Farrugia

Dec 10th 2009, 13:38

The answer is NO. The ban will remain in place. We still await a public apolaogy from the culprits. From those obscene persons who wrote the story and who published this obscenity in the media.