San Diego State University students can rely on one publication to publish all the news unfit to print.

The Koala, a student-run alternative newspaper known for its sophomoric humor and endless supply of penis jokes, made news this week for publishing a “personal” that was a bit too, well, personal.

The personals section (letters to the editor) in the November issue ran a letter calling fraternity and sorority coordinator Doug Case a “flaming fag.”

The anonymous letter continued: “Oh yeah, and get off our fucking nuts. I know you love them, but unlike your flamboyant self we like to have girls on them.”

Fortunately for The Koala, the First Amendment protects ignorance.

The letter’s postscript is the only troublesome territory, some say, from a legal standpoint: “P.S. If I ever see you with your fucking poodle again I am going to jump kick it in the face.”

The standards for student conduct may have been violated, and the university is investigating the incident.

Case isn’t interested in turning the letter into a legal matter, though – he’s using it as an opportunity to educate.

The only way to fight hate speech, Case said, is to speak out.

The First Amendment protects speech that doesn’t directly incite violence – so, while the slur “flaming fag” and the stereotypes the letter promotes do little to create a climate of tolerance at SDSU, they don’t, in theory, encourage violent behavior.

According to Case and others at SDSU, GLBT students and GLBT student organizations have been the targets of vandalism and hate-related incidents. Rainbow flags have been stolen, student activists have been harassed and had eggs thrown at them, and faculty has made blatant homophobic and trans-phobic remarks.

The language printed in The Koala affirms the status quo – that a change in attitude on the campus isn’t mandatory, when, in fact, the university must address the growing hostility aimed at GLBT students, staff and faculty.

The Koala staff, led by editor Alex Trudelle, 20, does not make a significant contribution to dialogue – instead, the staff uses dick jokes, vile humor, slurs and sexist remarks to garner attention. So, while Trudelle and his staff are exercising their First Amendment rights, they aren’t saying anything of value. The problem is, people are listening.

The letter sends the message that language that denigrates an entire community is not only acceptable, it’s humorous. We’re not laughing.

The university’s administration must handle this as quickly as possible, and must address GLBT students’ concerns about hate speech and homophobia on campus. If this incident and others are not addressed, the administration will be held accountable for its complacency with regard to GLBT students’ safety.

While we respect the rights granted by the First Amendment, rampant abuse of those freedoms cannot go unchecked. Individuals and groups use the First Amendment to justify hate speech, in turn creating a harmful environment that can perpetuate violence.

Frank Nobiletti, an SDSU professor, resigned as The Koala’s adviser this week. A champion of freedom of speech, Nobiletti, an openly gay man, served as adviser primarily because no one else would, and despite the fact he never liked the newspaper’s “juvenile toilet humor.” He had no role in the publication’s content, although he often encouraged the staff to use wit, not “potty humor.” He chalks the letter up to a weak attempt at “shock value.”

Upon resigning, Nobiletti said of The Koala staff: “They made the world a little bit worse of a place.”

Although some might argue The Koala’s actions aren’t worth the ink used to pen this editorial, the letter the newspaper published is a catalyst for a conversation that needs to be ongoing at the university.

The Koala’s childish behavior does not warrant attention – but the bigger picture, the growing hostility toward SDSU’s GLBT students, staff, and faculty, needs a long, hard look.