...Free Speech or Hate Speech? In a series of recent events, The Pacifica Forum has been brought to the attention of the public eye. This forum has been active for over 10 years and has had no other complaints until now. With all the controversy, the question of whether the Pacifica Forum should be aloud to stay on campus has been on many people’s minds. One issue should not be grounds to remove an established group from campus. The Pacifica Forum should continue to be allowed on campus because it promotes important controversial discussions. The Pacifica forum debate blew up when a swastika was painted on the LGBTQTA’s front door. Although the culprit for this act of hate has not been established, many choose to blame the Pacifica forum. The reason this conclusion is drawn is because recently the forum has been inviting hate speech speakers to come and talk to the forum. One of these speakers includes a Neo-Nazi Holocaust denier. The question of whether a speaker with such controversial views should be able to perform on campus is currently at debate. The Pacifica forum was started by Orval Etter in 1994 as a place where controversial ideas about “war and peace militarism and pacifism, violence and non-violence." The forum has received the reputation that many of its members also harbor similar ideas to some of the speakers. Although the Pacifica Forum may displease many University of Oregon students and officials, the forum itself is not actually breaking any...
Words: 932 - Pages: 4
...The first amendment in the Bill of Rights is Freedom of Religion and Speech. According to the Bill of Rights, this amendment allows Americans to express their thoughts, whether it is good or bad, and not have to deal with any type of consequence. The United States of America is at the point where the first amendment is being altered, or being taken away from Americans. In American public universities, there has been cases in which politicians and public speakers have...
Words: 1214 - Pages: 5
...centered around the freedom that African-Americans deserved. In the beginning of 1900s, we were fighting for the rights of women and then later we fought against discrimination of African Americans. Recently, in the early 90s to the 2000s, the fight for gay pride has ensued. Get through all of those issues, bigotry and hate speech still persists, especially directed towards each of the community is listed above. Now in a day and age where, without a college degree, it is believed to be nearly impossible to succeed in the US, the debate of hate speech on campus is ever prevalent....
Words: 1986 - Pages: 8
...Freedom of Speech, Hate Speech, & Talk Radio Brice Hinchman Freedom of Speech, Hate Speech, & Talk Radio What is Freedom of speech? Well, the definition for freedom of speech is the ability to speak freely without being subject to censorship or without fear of retaliation from a governing body. There are at least two documents, the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that acknowledge that free speech is an unalienable right and protect it for all. There is another form of speech that may or may not be protected, depending on the circumstances, under the same documents and that is hate speech. Some of the limitations that are put in place by Government, employers, and educational facilities are a violation of what freedom of speech is really about, being able to freely speak your mind, but are necessary to protect the rights and liberties of other individuals. The freedom of speech is a very powerful right that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Our Founding Fathers set the stage when they wrote the Declaration of Independence by stating that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (Choices, 81). One of these liberties and unalienable rights was the Freedom of speech. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified...
Words: 2457 - Pages: 10
...The rights of kids at school should be limited. Yes kids should were what they want to ware but somethings aren't appropriate for school. If they aren't appropriate for school then it could be harmful to them and other kids at school. Public schools are society in miniature, with students and school employees representing the full range of beliefs. In recent years, educators have repeatedly disciplined students for speech critical of teachers and administrators. The ACLU continues to be a leader in courts and statehouses across the country in protecting both students’ free speech rights and privacy. If students are suspected of criminal activity, school administrators should be forced to make their case before searching students or seizing property....
Words: 269 - Pages: 2
...In the 1960’s, a decade most known for its high level of civil rights and free speech reform activity, the Civil Rights Movement reached its peak as protests spread through the nation. Upon the late 50’s, many of America’s college youth had organized themselves into activist groups, promoting their rights to support off-campus causes. The University of California in Berkeley was one of the many that faced this student commotion. A minority of the university’s students actively engaged themselves in the Civil Rights cause. In an effort to lessen the student’s ability to promote causes such as these, Berkeley officials took legal precautions towards preventing on-campus political activities by initiating a ban. In the fall semester of 1964,...
Words: 1712 - Pages: 7
...College Campus Rumpus College is supposed to be a place for people to mature and develop their senses and character; it should be a prominent place for people to exchange ideas and differing opinions. However movements on college campuses across America have been stifling free expression and have gone so far as to protest and shut down people who have spoken out against their suppression of free speech. Movements such as Black Lives Matter liken themselves to being proponents of good seeking to ameliorate a lack of diversity based on superficial qualities such as the color of a person’s skin, instead of promoting a range of different ideas. Many colleges across the country have bent over backwards in an effort to oblige the incessant droning...
Words: 805 - Pages: 4
...Hate speech is one of the most powerful and hurtful speech there is today. Its power grows from the pure frustration and hatred towards another group. Hate speech perpetuates hate and violence and should never be allowed anywhere. Richard Delgado in Hate Cannot Be Tolerated states, “With anonymous hate speech such as a flier or graffiti, the victim cannot talk back, for the hate speaker delivers his message in a cowardly fashion.” I agree with Richards whole article but I particularly liked this segment. Hate crimes are cowardly and stereotypical. They usual consist of targeting a group and a helpless individual is dragged into that group and abused. If someone has a problem with me and confronts me I will openly listen but if the constantly fuck with my life using graffiti and fliers, that’s strait disrespect and I don’t put up with it. I don’t believe any one should have to. Now some people are not as hands on as me and we cant expect people to stick up for them selves so we must act to defend them. In the essay The Betrayal of Liberty on America’s Campus, by Alan Kors, I felt pushed back. I didn’t like the tone he used in his essay or the purpose. He gave some far-fetched examples if weird speech codes schools tried to bring the hate speech down and pushed that they were talking away our rights. I am always allowed to voice my opinion and even if I wasn’t allowed I still would but I’m glad there are rules in place to stop hate speech and in my eyes they don’t hurt free speech...
Words: 310 - Pages: 2
...Where is the Line Drawn? Freedom of speech: The right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction. The issues of language and whether or not there should be regulation of students’ First Amendment rights can be a summarized in one word for me. Bizarre. College campuses should not be able to put restrictions on students’ right to free expression. Contrary to popular belief that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” I understand that words do hurt; however, it is impossible to regulate language “because we don’t really know how to classify any kind of speech, which we would have to do before we could safely legislate against it”(314). You cannot prescribe a single remedy for the millions of different people on campus. How one person reacts to a word is completely different than how another person would. This is why our First Amendment rights cannot be restricted because there are too many variables attached to it. A UCLA student, Alexandra Wallace, posted a video on YouTube in which she complains about Asian students’ behavior. Wallace's three-minute video had triggered a national discussion about racial stereotyping and what authority, if any, colleges have over students' speech and opinions. When you are given the opportunity to express free speech, you have to act responsibly. Just like if you are given a license, you have to drive responsibly...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
...The first amendment was created, so that everyone would have the right to freedom of speech, petition, assembly, religion, and press. Although, it is stated that the government won’t interfere with those rights, it is not always followed.The first amendment is not being followed in society today because young adults do not fully comprehend the first amendment and, being refused to be able to have freedom of speech. Young adults do not understand the first amendment. “Fires burned in the cradle of free speech. Furious at a lecture organized on campus, demonstrators wearing ninja-like outfits smashed windows, threw rocks at the police and stormed a building. the speech? The university called it off.” Everyone has the right to freedom of speech,...
Words: 339 - Pages: 2
...Merriam-Webster defines a “safe space”, as “a place (as on a college campus) intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations” In theory, this idea seems to prevent emotional abuses and any inappropriately used language; however, in practice the implementation of safe spaces tend to shelter students from rational discussion and debate. For this reasons, I do not believe that safe spaces should become a common entity found at institutions of higher education. According to a study conducted by Pew Research, 39% of Americans believe that the purpose of college education is to help a student grow personally and intellectually. However, growth intellectually requires a debate between...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
...COM 114 WRITTEN EXAM AND SPEECH REQUIREMENTS Part 1: Written Exam The written exam, 50 multiple choice questions, is based on the COM 114 text, Effective Presentations, 1st or 2nd edition (2011, 2012), by Dr. Melanie Morgan and Jane Natt. Copies of the text are available in campus bookstores, from online sources, and from previous COM 114 students. Students must score 70% (35 out of 50 correct) or more to pass. One hour is allotted for the exam. Students will be informed of the results of the written exam via email within 24 hours, and then assigned a speech date and time if applicable. STAR students will have their results at the end of the exam session they attend, and will be assigned their speaking date and time before leaving the location. At the beginning of each chapter in the text is a list of “Chapter Objectives”. Every question on the exam is based on one of those objectives. To be successful on the exam, a student will need to be able to recognize, define and apply the text material in many different situations. Part 2: Persuasive Speech The persuasive speech is discussed in some length in the text in Chapters 9 through 12. Evaluators will expect students to be acquainted with the format of this type of speech. A persuasive speech urges some specific course of action. As a persuasive speech, the presentation should (1) show that a problem exists and that it is significant to the audience, (2) show how the consequences of the problem are significant to the audience,...
Words: 675 - Pages: 3
...‘goodbye’ to speaking one’s mind. There is a division forming in the United States of America. This division is between those who believe hate speech should be regulated and cannot differentiate between a word and an action; As opposed to those who simply and wholeheartedly believe that a word is just a word and not an action. They appreciate the right to free speech and do not wish to compromise it. In the article “Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus” by Derek Bok, he clearly demonstrates the possibility of ignorance and peace rather than prohibition and destruction in correlation to the First Amendment. Americans have an obligation to grasp the core idea of free speech for it is the true focal point and embodiment of our democratic system, whereas hurting one’s feelings dismisses the bona fide translation of our first amendment....
Words: 1647 - Pages: 7
... the principal denied their request. He claimed that it was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In 1990, Bridget Mergens challenged her school’s decision to deny her request to form a religion based group on school grounds, and with the help of her lawyer, took them to court. There were mixed emotions about the Westside Vs. Mergens case, some siding with Mergens, while others chose the opposing opinion that the religious beliefs that are practiced within the group will directly affect the image of the school itself. Justice Thurgood Marshall writes that “The introduction of religious speech into the public schools reveals the tension between the Free Speech and Establishment Clauses, because the failure of a school to stand apart from religious speech can convey a message that the school endorses, rather than merely tolerates, that speech.”...
Words: 1038 - Pages: 5
...College, the next step into adulthood, should be an institution that promotes and fosters freedom of speech and thought. Nowadays, however, these educational institutions are becoming progressively more sensitive and conservative about exposing their students to the unfiltered realities of the world. Comedians are forced to change their style and are not given their freedom of speech to avoid possibly offending or imposing any stereotypes on the students. Universities have purposely blocked out discussions of certain thoughts and ideas because they want to embrace a world that’s less cruel than the reality. College students are grown up and should be not be restricted to filtered ideas and thoughts that are respectful towards the university’s certain set of imposed beliefs. The article “That’s Not Funny!” by Caitlin Flanagan reveals how many stand up comedians tend to stray away from college gigs because they are too restricting on what they are allowed to express to a room of young adults. Flanagan effectively persuades her audience by appealing to them with her use of rhetorical techniques such as logos, ethos, and pathos. Since Flanagan is a...
Words: 1370 - Pages: 6
