University of North Texas Assistant General Counsel Caitlin Sewell found herself in some hot water after using a racial slur during a free speech panel. The lawyer was part of a panel discussion when she attempted to display language that was protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
In a poorly thought out example, Sewell decided to use the n-word, according to FOX 4.
“Gonna say a lot of offensive things in here, because it’s impossible to talk about the First Amendment without saying horrible things,” Sewell can be heard saying. “Um, you know, you’re just a dumb n—-r and I hate you. That alone, that’s protected speech.”
Less than 24 hours later Sewell resigned from her position.
Audio of her appearance on the panel was recorded by a student and has since been shared online.
That led to obvious anger from the crowd, so Sewell attempted to defend herself.
“I just want to sincerely apologize. I did not mean to by any means offend anyone,” Sewell added in her failed apology. “I wish I had censored that word, it came out without thought. I sincerely apologize. I literally have never said that word in a public setting before. I did not mean to, I was trying to be real.”
Here is an exchange with a student in the crowd after Sewell used the slur.
So my sister goes to UNT and they recently had a event titled #WhenHateComesToCampus about free speech and apparently the Assistant General Counsel of UNT at this event said the N word and later “dumb n-word” to describe free speech. This is the aftermath of her saying that. pic.twitter.com/9LDy7mg2xD
— Hector
(@thatoneguyhecto) November 8, 2019
(@thatoneguyhecto) One of the students who was in attendance at the panel was outraged that Sewell didn’t censor her use of the racial slur but did censor herself when saying “f*ck.”
“So, you didn’t censor the n-word, but you definitely censored f—k,” one student told the campus newspaper North Texas Daily. “Like, what’s more damaging to people? There is no word that I can say to describe a white person that is completely damaging to their character… that has like big historical context to it that can damage someone, but there are a plethora of words that can describe and damage minor marginalized students.”
University President Neal Smatresk issued a statement confirming Sewell had handed in her resignation.
“We strongly believe in a culture that embraces, and vehemently defends inclusion,” Smatresk said. “While Ms. Sewell was trying to make a point about First Amendment speech, the references used are never condoned in our community, which prides itself in our diversity and caring nature.”
Let this be the latest example of when free speech goes wrong. Yes, you are entitled to freedom of speech, folks, but you are not entitled to freedom from consequence. And I don’t know who still needs to hear this in 2019, but don’t just go tossing around the n-word.