Censorship 
Ben Allison, Peter Huene, David Paroulek, Robert Rossman, and Mark Shapiro
Conclusion
Recap of Scenario:
A law was passed in July of 1996 prohibiting state employees from ìaccessing
sexually explicit materials on the Internet.î The ACLU of Virginia is
preparing to challenge the constitutionality of this law in court. This
would ban more than just pornographic material and the like. Many art works
would also be illegal to view in locations such as schools where nude art
works are sometimes used. Many teachers have already complained and agreed
to work with the ACLU.
The Dilemma:
Does this violate freedom of speech and take censorship too far or does the state of Virginia have the right to control
what its state employees are allowed to view at work?
United States Response:
Majority of Americans are against electronic censorship.
America has a diverse opinion of what is pornographic.
Academic freedom should not be (but can be) jeopardized to censor pornography.
The youth of America should be guarded against obscene material.
German Response:
Germany is against censorship in much the same was as America.
Germany only views material that portrays "anti-erotic and inhuman sex" as pornographic.
Academic freedom would not be jeopardized.
The youth of Germany should be guarded against obscene material.
Final Commentary:
The United States and Germany do not completely agree on what material should be deemed
pornographic. Germany has a much more liberal view of human sexuality,
and does not censor such material from the television, radio, or the internet unless it depicts "inhuman" sex. The United States, in contrast, considers
frontal nudity or any sexual act to be obscene and censors such material from all media. With this particular dilemma in mind, it is clear that in the United States
this dilemma would be more prevalent than in Germany. Many times throughout the history of the United States has a political body attempt to censor what it deems obscene,
and this law is no exception. Academic freedom is vital to Universities to allow for the open exchange of ideas. This includes "pornographic" ideas and research. How would
an individual research such a topic as human sexuality if that individual could not view such material online if it was needed? In short, academic freedom is not a price worth paying to ensure
that all state employees are not viewing pornographic material and wasting taxpayer's money while at work.