METRO DIGEST || Straight-pride posters removed at YSU

Posters removed

YOUNGSTOWN

Posters promoting a “straight pride” week at Youngstown State University have been removed after student leaders said the message went beyond free speech. Student Government Association leaders said they decided to remove the posters after consulting with university officials. The posters included profanity and promoted the event as a time to not highlight sexual orientation or differences among students. They encouraged students to “go about your day without telling everyone about how ‘different’ you are.”

A university spokesman told 21-WFMJ TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, that the posters counter the school’s mission of diversity. Officials are investigating possible student-code violations. A statement from the student government said while it respects free speech rights, the posters missed the point of activism.

1 dead in I-80 crash

austintown

At least one person has died in an accident that backed up traffic for more than three hours on Interstate 80 in Austintown on Friday evening, reported Vindicator News Partner 21-WFMJ TV. State troopers say eastbound traffic already was slowed because of a previous accident in Weathersfield, when a car slammed into the rear of a tractor-trailer about 6:30 p.m., just west of the junction with I-680 in Austintown. The name of the victim has not been released. Cars and trucks were brought to a standstill west of the crash, backing up to the Meander Reservoir. A large number of cars and trucks could be seen exiting at Route 46 in hopes of finding a detour. I-80 was opened just before 10 p.m.