News

04 Oct PLU Hosts First Amendment Free Food Festival – October 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PLU’s SPJ chapter hosts First Amendment
Free Food Festival

PARKLAND, Wash. Sept. 29, 2008 – Pacific Lutheran University’s student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will host a First Amendment Free Food Festival on Oct. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the PLU campus’ Red Square. The Food Fest will show students and community members what it is like to give up their First Amendment Rights of religion, speech, press, assembly and government petition.

“We look forward to giving the community a shock about how our First Amendment rights are taken for granted,” SPJ president Nate Hulings said. “Americans don’t think about their rights until they feel them slipping away; we’re going to show them what it feels like to have them completely gone.”

Students and community members can choose to enter Red Square, which will be transformed into the “Republic of Parkland,” but only after signing away their First Amendment rights. The signed passport allows visitors to have a free lunch consisting of pizza, candy and soft drinks but must follow the instruction of “enforcers” once they enter the zone. Enforcers may ask passport carrying members to stand, move chairs or be silenced if they want to remain in the Republic of Parkland. People not complying with the rules of the Republic of Parkland will be asked to leave. Enforcers will remove passports and deport individuals who fail to comply with “the law.”

The event is funded by the Western Washington Pro Chapter of SPJ, the Washington News Council and the Washington Journalism Education Association. PLU’s Theater Club will help with the event by providing costumes and actors to portray protesters and dictators.

This is the second year that PLU’s SPJ has hosted the festival. The event is open to the public and SPJ encourages high schools and any other community members to attend the two hour event.

“Last year was a huge success and we’re looking to create an annual event that people look forward to,” Hulings said.

To view last year’s event, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vToG2JYoRq0

Contact info:
Nate Hulings, President, PLU’s Society of Professional Journalists
spj@plu.edu
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