...The limitation of free speech on college campuses Many people believe in freedom of speech. Freedom of speech usually exist in democratic countries including the United States of America. Furthermore, The U.S, also known as “Free country” have legalized the freedom of speech in every institution such as school, college, or church. There are many people including myself who are against freedom of speech in specific sectors such as school and college. On the other hand, the University of Missouri believe in the power of free speech even though in some cases it can be offensive. Why should free speech be limited on campuses? When should free speech be limited on campuses? Who should take responsibility of free speech on campuses? Erika Christakis, the the Yale Associate House Matter states, “Free speech and the ability to tolerate offense are the hallmarks of a free and open society” (“Campus adults: protect free speech” 1) and the authorities of the university of Missouri adopted that slogan. I believe that free speech should be limited in the university of Missouri in order to reduce the effects of creating an offensive, demeaning, intimidating, and hostile environment for other students on campus. First, I am against the total freedom of speech in the university of Missouri because it can create an offensive environment on campus. The offense can be directed against other students because of their race, color, religion, sex orientation, age, or disability. The recent events...
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...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...
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...The limitation of free speech on college campuses Many people believe in freedom of speech. Freedom of speech usually exist in democratic countries including the United States of America. Furthermore, The U.S, also known as “Free country” have legalized the freedom of speech in every institution such as school, college, or church. There are many people including myself who are against freedom of speech in specific sectors such as school and college. On the other hand, the University of Missouri believe in the power of free speech even though in some cases it can be offensive. Why should free speech be limited on campuses? When should free speech be limited on campuses? Who should take responsibility of free speech on campuses? Erika Christakis, the the Yale Associate House Matter states, “Free speech and the ability to tolerate offense are the hallmarks of a free and open society” (“Campus adults: protect free speech” 1) and the authorities of the university of Missouri adopted that slogan. I believe that free speech should be limited in the university of Missouri in order to reduce the effects of creating an offensive, demeaning, intimidating, and hostile environment for other students on campus. First, I am against the total freedom of speech in the university of Missouri because it can create an offensive environment on campus. The offense can be directed against other students because of their race, color, religion, sex orientation, age, or disability. The recent events...
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...the News, which is a biweekly news magazine. As Delgado states, there have been a lot of hate related incidents on campuses. Hate can be directed towards everyone. Jews, Blacks and Latino cases, are the examples that the author mentions. As a reaction to this kind of incidents, some colleges are adapting hate-speech codes, they are also applying rules against those who interfere with the other students studies. Most of the times, the hate speech is anonymous. Because of this, rarely the victim has a chance to respond or defend. If the hate speech victims reply, it can go very bad for them. As Delgado says: “The victim talked back-and paid with his life.” (199). As the author explains, almost never hate speech is an invitation to talk; it is more like a slap in the face. Finally, the author argues that Federal Courts are fully aware of all these events happening recently on campuses, and are creating punishments against offenders. In my opinion, this is a truly realistic article. I do relate my thought with Delgado’s thought because I know that hate can be directed towards everyone. As a Jewish person, it is sad but true to said that some of the people that share the same religious beliefs that I do, have passed thru a lot of humiliations and even slaughter. I am glad to know that universities and colleges are adapting this hate speech codes, because in my opinion, a campus where hate speech and offenses are active, is not a healthy environment for students that are just there to...
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...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...
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...many other countries have laws against hate speech and that such laws have sometime been passed in the United States, although not nationally. I think this is because, as mentioned by Waldron, many countries consider hate laws in Europe and in other countries in which manifestations of hate are prohibited rather than tolerated in the name of free speech. I also think this because other countries in which have these hate laws, their constitutions acknowledge that basic rights, including freedom of expression, are legitimately subject to restriction. I think it isn’t consistent because many states vary in the extent to which they allow their national legislation be guided by international human-rights laws. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education reviews the narrow definitions of exceptions for the free-speech clause of the U.S Constitution, noting that universities frequently go beyond these exceptions in their speech codes. Those narrow exceptions include: speech that incites reasonable people to immediate violence, so-called “fighting words”, harassment, true threats and intimidation, obscenity, and defamation. I think that universities go beyond these exceptions in their speech codes because of the recent events that have happened. For example, I think the Virginia Tech massacre made a lot of universities scared that something like that could happen at their university, so they started to go beyond exceptions of the free-speech clause to make sure that nothing like...
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...Take-home Quiz 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...
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...‘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....
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...In the debate over implementing speech codes on college campuses, the opponents argue that speech codes are unnecessary because the rules in place are already doing an adequate job of keeping racist hate speech to a minimum. On the other side of the debate, the supporters argue that college campuses need to inject speech codes because the current rules are not working well enough, and that such speech is not allowing an equal opportunity in the pursuit of education. In this paper, I will conclude that speech codes are unnecessary. In the article titled, “The Debates Over Placing Limits on Racist Speech Must Not Ignore the Damage It Does to Its Victims,” Charles R. Lawrence concludes that speech codes will curtail racist hate speech in common areas. A couple contextual informational points by Lawrence are racist hate speech and common areas. Racist hate speech is any kind of speech that it focused on a person's race and is intended to cause harm to an individual. Common areas as...
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...Expression and Campus Speech Codes” Vs “Only Speech Codes Should Be Censored” Thesis: Both articles, “On Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes” and “Only Speech Codes Should Be Censored” speak out against University speech codes and the need for free speech based on the purpose of the articles, the explanations for why speech codes exist, and the alternatives given in the place of speech codes. I. Introduction a. Describe what free speech is, and give a general importance of it. b. Thesis: Both articles, “On Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes” and “Only Speech Codes Should Be Censored” speak out against University speech codes and the need for free speech based on the purpose of the articles, the explanations for why speech codes exist, and the alternatives given in the place of speech codes. II. Compare and Contrast both article’s main purpose. a. Both articles are against speech codes. b. Define the first amendment c. Describe the importance of free speech in institutions of higher learning d. Give examples from both articles, and how they feel that free speech is important. III. Compare and Contrast both article’s explanations for why speech codes exist. a. “On Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes” believes that speech codes started with good intentions, but the institution cannot keep up. A. Give examples, and quotes. b. “Only Speech Codes Should Be Censored” believes that speech codes have an...
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...certain actions. 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...
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...Free speech should be allowed on campus. Free speech is meant to be free and should not be limited to certain areas. Our first amendment rights tell us that we have free speech, along with some other freedoms, and that should mean free not limited to certain areas. The people on campus should have the right to say what they want and not fear getting in trouble for it. These people should have the same rights as if they were not on campus, but that does not seem like how it is. The schools are there to help the students and to teach them better and newer things in life. Colleges are not there to restrict your rights, they are there to help you learn and to help you get a career after you graduate. They do have free speech on most campuses, but they have designated it to certain zones. These zones are a good idea, but it is our first amendment right to have the freedom of speech and they are slowly taking that away from us on campus. The administrative forces have been trying to punish these people that are not following by their rules. These colleges are trying to limit the free speech of students in their schools. These people try to take a stand with peaceful protests, but they just end up getting...
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...Hate speech is nothing new to American universities. It is defined as language that slanders a particular group based on race, color, gender, nationality, as well as other characteristics. Though colleges try to combat hate speech with speech codes, these codes are never upheld in court, and as a result the victims are left to suffer. Sadly, most victims are minorities who have been historically oppressed, such as African Americans and women. In order to help the minorities targeted by hate speech on college campuses, the sufferers must be empowered to speak out through the creation of a national organization and eventually the Supreme Court must rule that the freedom of speech does not include hate speech. An increase of hate speech on college...
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...The majority of students attending Sam Houston State University are familiar with the hate preacher, he stands in the mall area and condemning people to hell. The First Amendment protects the preacher allowing him the freedom of speech. He only shows up to campus about once a month and students stand around amused by his yelling and ranting until they grow bored and walk away. But imagine if instead this was a daily occurrence and its multiple people verbally harassing an individual based on nothing more than their race, gender, or sexual preference; three factors about a person that cannot be changed. Charles R. Lawrence III appropriately calls for regulation on racist speech, as it is becoming a serious issue on college campuses and its effects on victims. One recent incident of racist speech happened in March of this year at Oklahoma University. A posting of a video of one of the university fraternities, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, showing the fraternity on a bus chanting racial slurs targeting blacks. The song included lynching and that the allowance of blacks in the fraternity’s chapter would never happen. The University President...
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...It is rather baffling that the basic right of free speech has become a subject of fervent debate. It should be clear that an individual’s freedom of speech should not be limited or compromised unless it interferes with the defined legal rights of others. Until freedom of speech involves threats against another’s well-being or is followed by physical violence or force, such expression should not be met with legal restraint. Moreover, it is important to recognize that hate speech is not logical or constructive; therefore, the most effective way to invalidate hateful ideologies is to allow the bigoted to freely present their fallacious viewpoints. The act of giving hate speech a platform does not mean people are compelled to listen to it or condone it. It does, however, permit opportunities for such ideas to be publicly met with contempt, and harsh criticism....
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