As citizens of this country, we have the undeniable right to freedom of speech. In spite of this fact, it seems that there are certain organizations that try to stifle this freedom whenever possible. I’m referring to an incident taking place elsewhere in California in a place known as Ventura County.

Ventura County, located in Southern California, is not so different from San Mateo County. Both counties host three different community colleges, and while our district boasts two student newspapers, Ventura County has three.

Or do they?

The Ventura County Community College District has recently decided that, due to budget problems, two of the journalism programs, including two student newspapers, The Ventura College VC Press, and the Oxnard College Campus Observer, will be gone as of next semester.

The county is now expected to have one community college newspaper, located at Moorpark College in Simi Valley, the Moorpark College Reporter.

So, why should you care?

Well, by making this decision, VCCCD has effectively ripped the heart out of freedom of speech for every student at Ventura County, and, in a sense, every student across the state.

If Ventura County is allowed to do this, who’s to say what might be next? Theoretically, any student newspaper could be the next to go. With an excuse such as “budget problems”, there really is no safe program in California.

So, what should we do?

If there is anybody out there willing to help Ventura County in their time of need, I must request that you take the very large cartoon below and send as many copies of it as you are willing to:

Ventura County Community College District

333 Skyway Drive

Camarillo, CA, 93010

If enough cartoons are sent to them, perhaps the message will be loud enough that they will have to listen. Freedom of speech is what is being attacked, and in this battle, it really is the best weapon we have to fight back.