So I was walking by a professor’s office door when I saw posted, on the outer side of the door, a picture and comment that explicitly attacked the current president. Not an anti-war sentiment or something speaking out on an issue, but rather a flat-out bashing of the president himself and nothing else.

I begin to think about the right to free speech, as well as the right of a student to learn from a professor who does not engage in underhanded, ad hominem criticism of national leaders – namely, the national leader, our president.

I understand there are numerous reasons why people choose to criticize the current administration, and, as a child, I had a decent repertoire of jokes aimed at our former president. But as I grew up, and I would like to think matured, I started to feel differently about personal criticism of a national figure – particularly the president.

I have no problem with speaking out against issues, and I find political discussions quite engaging and enjoyable. I even appreciate good satire, or even well done cheap shots made by late night talk show hosts and I in no way feel like I have any right to tell my peers or superiors what they can and cannot say, or even what they should and should not say.

However, with all of that said, I cannot help but think that I should be able to expect faculty that represent prestigious universities to conduct themselves a bit differently than late night talk show hosts. It definitely would not be appropriate for a professor to post explicit sexual jokes and innuendos on their office doors, so why is it acceptable for the same professors to post similarly crude political comments? Free speech is one thing; slander is something completely different. But to me this is not a legal issue, it is an ethical one. It is a matter of principle. Just as I do not want university professors to be known for sexual promiscuity, I do not want them to be known for verbal promiscuity either.

What a professor says on her own time or in his own home is one thing, and personally, I would have no problem with professors being allowed to post a candidate’s campaign flyer on their doors. But, if I am not mistaken, it is deemed unacceptable for a professor to endorse a political candidate while on campus. How can supporting a candidate be looked down upon while bashing an already-elected official is condoned? Why do we make such a big deal of supporting candidates but neglect to support the candidates that were actually elected, chosen by the voting population as the best individual for the job?

I am by no means saying that anyone has to agree with the president or any elected official, but just as military personnel are expected to refrain from disrespectful political comments, I feel like all citizens of this great nation, especially citizens as highly respected as professors, should be too patriotic to overtly insult its leaders. Speaking out on an issue is one thing. Having a political opinion is one thing. “Bush sucks!” is not what I call a political opinion. I call that acting like we are in still in middle school. Talk about taxes. Talk about Iraq. Talk about immigration, abortion, gay marriage. Talk about something that can actually be talked about. Haphazard defamations are not beneficial to anyone. Honest, thoughtful grievances and opinions can be.

Matt Brumit is a junior Humanities major. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].