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 that occurs in the university of Missouri is entirely the proof that such an environment can be created if the speech is totally free. In November 18, 2015, students at the university of Missouri engaged in huge protest against the university president for a deep racial problem that occurred on campus. “Students are right to speak out for diversity and sensitivity to racial and gender concerns. But too often, this has happening in ways that trample freedom of speech.” (“Campus adults: protect free speech” 1). Students stands against such a racial profiling environment and spoke out. However, the university of Missouri does not seems buffered by the events. School authorities say that the first amendment protects just about all speech. As those events occurred, I believe that free speech should be limited to prevents these kind of environments in the future.
In addition, the United states of America, also known as the land of freedom, I believe that everyone who lives here should be able to experience that freedom everywhere. However, I also believe that a place like colleges, that freedom should be limited as soon as one feels offended by someone else’s say. For example, I have witnessed at Old Dominion University, Virginia, a student being laughed at and being judged because of his sex orientation. It occurs that the student was gay. A man who loves man. I do not support homosexuality but everyone has the freedom to make a choice and no one should be threatened because of that especially in a place like college. For the student, the campus became offensive because some students were judging him or telling him offensive words. To avoid that, limitation of free speech must take place on college campuses.
Furthermore, I believe that free speech should be limited in the University of Missouri because it could cause demeaning and intimidating environment on campus. When a student is being intimidated he/she becomes insecure. As the controversy at the Missouri campus of discrimination, students were being demeaning because of their race. Discriminatory harassment includes conduct (oral, written, graphic or physical). “On the Missouri campus, students and professors tried to stop a student photographer from taking photos of a public gathering. At Wesleyan University, some students petitioned to defund the college newspaper after it ran an op-ed questioning the tactics of the Black Lives Matter movement.” (“Campus adults: protect free speech” 2). The event pushed some students to stand up and speak out about the issue. Students have the right to express themselves but their freedom should not demean or intimidate other students.
In addition, I do not condemn the student at Missouri campus for crossing the line. However, I do condemn the authorities of the university for not having any reasonable policy regarding free speech on campus. I believe that the authorities of the university of Missouri should be the ones to take responsibility and solve the problem of discrimination on campus. “University and college administrators have the right and responsibility to speak out against and condemn hate speech. The administration should issue an immediate statement condemning the speaker's views as intolerant and unacceptable on campus” (“Responding to hate speech on campus” 1). This statement from ADL article confirmed my thought about who should take the responsibility of free speech on campus. If the authorities take reasonable measure to limit free speech on campus, students will not longer be intimidated or demeaned by other students.
A final reason why I am against free speech on campus is because it creates a hostile environment for some students and lead them to bad performances at school. Gerald Uelmen states “discrimination and subjugation that plagues the harmed student and hinders his or her ability to compete fairly in the academic arena.” (The Price of Free Speech:
Campus Hate Speech Codes). Students should be able to reunite every favorable condition in order to improve relationship with other students and perform well at school. If the authorities do not limit free speech on campus some students may have such issues on campuses. The resulting harm is clearly significant and, therefore, justifies limiting speech rights.
The university of Missouri may have specific reasons why the do not limit free speech on their campus; however, I am fully against them existing in the Missouri campus. Free speech on campus make students offending others student, demeaning and intimidating students, and make an unfriendly environment. Instead of being focused on academic issues, some students find themselves in a controversy such as discrimination and other offensive situation. If the authorities of the institution had a policy that could limit free speech on campus, students would not be worried about anything else but school and could prevent such a chaotic environment. America offers freedom of speech but I believe that I should be limited in the university of Missouri.