During Tuesday's House Appropriations Committee hearing, state Rep. John Lawless, R-Montgomery, who has been leading a crusade to cut off Penn State's state funding because of his objections to the Feb. 3 student-run Sex Faire, read an insulting e-mail he received from Penn State student Bob Pickrell (junior-secondary education).

In Pickrell's letter, he wrote, among other things, "I suppose the likelihood of you acting responsibly in this situation is about as likely as your eyes moving to the same." This line apparently upset the legislator the most because it referred to his physical disfigurement — an insult for which Pickrell later apologized.

Penn State President Graham Spanier responded by reading an subsequent e-mail he received from Pickrell — a message describing a harassing and threatening phone call Pickrell said he received from Lawless. In the e-mail, Pickrell told Spanier he was "so scared" and his parents were "horrified."

Pickrell's e-mail to Lawless was tasteless, but even more inappropriate and immature was Lawless' reaction to it. Lawless is an elected official, a public figure who is supposed to be able to handle criticism from the public.

Just because Lawless' position as an elected representative gives him some power in the state does not mean he has a mandate from the people to use that power to threaten and intimidate college students. Lawless said Pickrell's e-mail "clearly demonstrates the ability or lack thereof of PSU students to communicate on an academic and professional level." Although Pickrell's e-mail was sophomoric, Lawless' response was no more academic or professional than the message he condemned.

Pickrell said Lawless told him "he would prevent me from getting a job after college" and would ruin "my reputation in college."

On Tuesday Lawless confirmed his threats, saying he planned to inform state school districts about Pickrell's e-mail, which might sabotage Pickrell's future teaching career.

Lawless' attack on Pickrell is just another aspect of his on-going assault on free speech. Whether his e-mail was well-versed or not, Pickrell had every right to e-mail Lawless his disapproval of the state legislator's actions. As an elected official, Lawless is accountable to the people — and that means all the people, not just the ones who agree with him.

Lawless said Penn State students do not know how to communicate their ideas academically or professionally. Apparently the state legislator has not read the letters to the editor section of The Daily Collegian. Penn State students have opinions, and they know how to express them.

We encourage you to continue writing your letters to the editor and to Rep. John Lawless at jlawless@pahousegop.com. Lawless cannot continue to threaten our freedom of expression and obligation to hold our representatives accountable.