Ohio university restricts radio station on buses
Feb 18, 2012, 9:19 PM
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) – Officials at an Ohio university have ordered radios on campus shuttle buses be locked into one station and volume restricted after a student complained a driver was a playing a “far-right Christian political” channel at high volume.
The Blade newspaper reports (
http://bit.ly/wD6N2J) the policy was suggested by the University of Toledo’s manager of transit services and gives drivers only an on/off option. In a memo, the manager, Steven John Wise, describes the selected station as “nonoffensive, work place type music, helpful weather info.” Radio volume also is being restricted as a safety measure.
The student made the complaint to university president Lloyd Jacobs on Jan. 26 and said the bus had become “a mobile proselytizing unit.” The student said those attending a state university expect to be free from forced religious and political views.
“The content of these broadcasts is blatantly offensive, derogatory, and abusive to anyone not in line with the very extreme views of those speaking,” the complaint says. “Issues such as women’s rights, sexual rights, and reproductive rights all come under constant attack. I can only imagine how someone affected deeply by any of these issues might feel being a captive audience to such abuse.”
Jacobs had responded in an email, “It sounds like you are correct _ it may be inappropriate,” and instructed the vice president of administration to address the matter.
University correspondences show drivers were instructed on issues of safety and music selection, and radios were disconnected until the resolution was found.
The university said it had received no complaints about the new policy as of Friday.
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Information from: The Blade,
http://www.toledoblade.com/
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
