Campus Reform: University of California - Los Angeles

Johnathan Zasloff is an accomplished professor of law at the University of California, Los Angeles.

But he is also a very loyal Democrat, once serving as an advisor to the Democratic California Speaker of the House. His participation in Journolist, an online discussion list for left-wing journalists, in which he questions whether the Federal Communications Commission could stick it to Fox News by prohibiting that media outlet to broadcast, has raised criticism.

On March 12, 2010, Zasloff posted to Journolist that President Obama should revisit his adversarial tone toward Fox News, which began during his presidential campaign and continued into the early months of the administration, ending his post: "Is there any reason why the FCC couldn't simply pull their broadcasting permit once it expires?" This question is easily answered -- and dismissed.

Let me firstly say that the comment itself, while silly, is not the cause for concern to campus reformers. I'm not about to go ballistic over a web post he probably gave less than a second's thought in writing. It's worth remembering, though, that this kind of perspective exists in a university system where arbitrary media censorship has already occured.

While Zasloff claims that he is not an expert on the FCC and the First Amendment, it does seem more than a bit questionable that an experienced law professor would think to engage an educated group of peers with this question. The fact that it is within the realm of acceptable discussion in leftist company is precisely the reason we should worry this could translate into decision-making on campus. 

Should someone of his background really not have any personal inhibition on whether it is proper, ethical or legal for the government to make a non-viewpoint neutral decision to prohibit a media source with which he disagrees?

In a recent blog post, he backtracks under a pile of hate mail (please do not bother the man) to say that he meant to ask the question in the context of whether the FCC can legally revoke a license if they determine a broadcast station is deemed not to be equivalent to other legitimate news sources, and that the Fairness Doctrine which was previously applied to broadcasters was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court.

As some commenters point out, he doesn't venture into asking the same question of any other media outlet that mixes news and politics, nor does he seem to mind the fact that a return of the Fairness Doctrine would effectively eliminate a vast number of conservative and libertarian opinion programs that utilize publicly licensed airwaves.

So-called liberals who want the world to stand still for their advocacy should be called to account when they want to silence the advocacy and expression of others.

Zasloff wanted United States senators to take heed when he petitioned for the fillibuster of now Chief Justice John Roberts, but if this brief glimpse into his thinking is at all indicative of his legal philosophy, then he is apparently not comfortable with offering others a rebuttal.

Remember: 

• There's nothing inherently wrong with your professor having an opinion or even being an activist on their own time. That makes college an interesting place for ideas to be presented, articulated and challenged. But their opinion should not adversely affect policy-making and teaching on your campus or be the basis for abuse of students who disagree.
• The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has your back in cases when free speech, assembly, and religious liberty for students are threatened. They can even provide advice about whether the stated policies of your school are in line with the law.
• Always keep an eye on Academic Senate and Student Government proceedings on your campus. These are venues where professors who have a bone to pick with conservatives will use their sway to create or endorse harmful policies.

Have you encountered a professor who is actively trying to supress conservative speech on campus? Contact me with your stories or comment below.