News and Views for Friday: Breast Implants and Evil Teddy Bears

   Daniel Abrahamson    over at Alternet has an interesting look at the Supreme Court and the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" free speech case that the court just heard this past Monday.

   I mentioned this case earlier because it has what could be a profound effect on student's right to speak their views on things of importance and the drug scene is one view that we should be allowed to hear.

The Article

The case has the potential to impact a wide swath of student expression. The Court, however, could walk a narrower path and carve out as undeserving of constitutional protection just one type of speech: drug speech. Based on the justices' questioning at oral argument, it appears that a majority of the Court may be inclined to refashion the Nancy Reagan's mantra "Just Say No" into "Don't Even Say It," when it comes to student speech that references drugs.  

* * * *

UPI    March 22, 2007

Breasts implants up self esteem, sexuality

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 23 (UPI) -- Most women who have their breasts surgically enlarged experience increased self-esteem and sexuality, too, a University of Florida study found.

"This study shows that there are genuine psychological improvements that follow plastic surgery and these issues must be understood and respected," Cynthia Figueroa-Haas, an assistant professor at the university's College of Nursing said in the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.

The study results appear in the current issue of Plastic Surgical Nursing.

Most of the 84 women in Figueroa-Haas's study had an increase in self-esteem and sexuality, the Sun reported. Participants were between the ages of 21 and 57.

Following their breast augmentation surgery, self-esteem rose an average of 24.9 percent, while sexual desire increased 78.6 percent and sexual satisfaction increased 57 percent.

* * * *

UPI

Expelled students get $69,000

INDIANAPOLIS, March 23 (UPI) -- An Indiana school district will pay $69,000 to three of four high school students it expelled for their film in which evil teddy bears threaten a teacher.

The three Knightstown High School sophomores, who were readmitted to school in January under a federal judge's order, will split the money, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The school district on Tuesday approved the $69,000 settlement and agreed to remove the boys' expulsion from their records, ending a federal First Amendment lawsuit brought by the teenagers when they were expelled in January, the Star reported.

A fourth boy didn't take part in the lawsuit, although he, too, was readmitted to school.

The boys were expelled over the film they called "The Teddy Bear Master," which they described as a parody of a horror movie which they made off school grounds.

District officials said it made threats against a teacher character who had the same name as a middle school teacher in the district.

Before she ruled in their favor in December, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker described "The Teddy Bear Master" as "humiliating" and "obscene," the Star reported.

 

Technorati tags: Supreme Court, student speech, breast implants, teddy bears