Sights and Sounds Story

No Rights For You!

Communications Week 2014-First Amendment Free Food Festival

By Jennifer Pascale

"You no longer have your First Amendment rights, therefore you cannot wear any logos."

The students working the event proceeded to cover every logo that a person was wearing with duct tape.

Students that attended the First Amendement Free Food Festival were most likely looking for a free lunch and some extra credit in their communications courses, but they were shocked by their experience. It was definitely not what they had in store for their lunch hour.

First Amendment Free Food Festival, Wilson Ballroom
photo credit: Jennifer Pascale

"Are you eating?" said a man who appeared to be dressed like Hitler or some type of dictator. "Food is that way, hurry up."

As students and faculty approached the lunch table, workers were handing out Jimmy Johns, chips, and drinks. They were asked if they wanted turkey or ham and their preference on snacks, but regardless of what their answer was, they got the opposite. Melissa Schnepp, a High Point student, asked for a turkey sandwich and Doritos and got ham and Cheetos. By the time she got her drink, she said, "Just give me whatever, you were planning on doing that anyway right?"

Student volunteers were dressed in different apparal to set the scene and give a more realistic feel as to how it would have been to live in this time period where your rights were taken from you.

Erica Allaby, HPU Student
photo credit: Jennifer Pascale

Some students were dressed in all black and their job was to make sure everyone was following the rules. You couldn't sit with people you knew or talk to anyone at your table. If you were being talkative or uncooperative, you were sent to their version of jail, which was a taped off area in the corner of Wilson Ballroom. Until you followed the rules, you remained there. However, if you were following direction and staying quite, you got to sit at a table labeled 'The Dictator's Table'. Few students ended up there.

Josh Walston, a student that attended the event was not happy about all of these rules. While eating his lunch, he sat on his cell phone, talked to everyone at his table, and then began talking to people across the room. The dictators demanded for him to stop.

"This is absolutely ridiculous!" Walston said. "I'll do what I want."

Students found this act of rebellion to be funny and the room erupted in laughter as Walston was escorted to jail. The students in black were angered, making most sit in jail, sit at different tables, and some were even threatened to have their mouth duct taped. Others were scrutinized for what they were doing as well.

Even Dr. Tremblay, Dean of Nido R. Qubein School of Communications, stood up and demanded that this treatment was unfair.

This mock representation of what it was like before the First Amendment of the Constitution was ratified was a real eye opener for the students and staff.

The First Amendment of the Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

All that attended agreed that they will not take their rights for granted anymore and that they feel lucky to live in a place of freedom.



Monday, March 31, 2014
High Point University
Wilson Ballroom
11:30-1:30