The Importance Of Free Speech

College is a time when most individuals are experiencing major changes and begin to explore new perspectives. The transition in becoming more independent, creating new insights and peer influence are key factors in changing the perspective of an individual. Students are faced with new ideas from their professors, family and fellow peers. Through that acquired knowledge many students decide that they either agree or disagree with the perspectives that they are taught. Allowing the right of ‘Free Speech’ on public college campuses has become an important issue that many public colleges are starting to address. In college students are capable of

“Free Inquiry? Not on Campus” by John Leo is an important essay that shows exactly how important it is to protect people's political views and opinions. In Leo's essay, he elaborates how times have changed and how we live in more of a liberal left-wing society and because of this everyone has to be more politically correct. Leo talks about the social change universities and colleges on how they used to promote free speech, but now are more like the speech police telling us what's opinions you should have on any given subject and any other opinion is considered wrong. Leo gives an example of this and writes “in October 2007, for instance, a student mob stormed a Columbia University stage, shutting down speeches by two members of the Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration group.The students shouted they have no right to

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.” Indeed, free speech is a large block upon which this nation was first constructed, and remains a hard staple of America today; and in few places is that freedom more often utilized than on a college campus. However, there are limitations to our constitutional liberties on campus and they, most frequently, manifest themselves in the form of free speech zones, hate speech and poor university policy. Most school codes are designed to protect students, protect educators and to promote a stable, non-disruptive and non-threatening learning environment. However, students’ verbal freedom

Free speech is vital to the advancement of a liberal science system. As Rauch mentions the goal of liberal science is to seek out truth, truth can only be brought out through unregulated discussion. Everyone has different ideas and ways of thinking. Through criticism and a collaboration of ideas knowledge is formed. When free speech is controlled the liberal science system cannot advance.

Free Speech on Campus incorporates arguments in favor of promoting broad speech protections on campus as well as arguments in favor of restricting free speech to protect the learning experience of students. Ultimately, the authors of the book take the side of supporting broad speech protections on campus in that as long as professional character is maintained, all ideas and views, protected by the 1st amendment, should be able to be expressed on college campuses, no matter how offensive or how uncomfortable they make people feel. While those in favor of restricting speech argue that students should be protected from hateful, discriminatory, or intolerant speech as a means of protecting the educational setting, the authors maintain that the

One of the most notable rights stated in our constitution is the right to free speech. That right is engrained in the minds of every American since the creation of America itself, but currently the right to free speech is being tossed aside in the fear of conflict with opposing ideas or offensive content. College universities specifically have taken steps to impede upon this right through speech codes and other acts that restrict the right to speak freely. American’s growing infringement upon the right of free speech in universities is creating a threat to American culture and the principles that it was founded upon; In order for our citizens to withhold their individuality, opinions, and culture free speech must be actively protected.

The founding fathers made free speech the First Amendment not to protect popular speech, but for the protection of unpopular speech that goes against the views of the majority. In the United States, colleges are a form of higher education beyond high school where students go further themselves for their future careers. While at college, students engage in debates that will either reaffirm or make them rethink their own beliefs, in turn making students active and engaged US citizens. However, recently an emergence of calls for the regulation of speech have gained popularity across US campuses. These people seek to regulate speech to keep students from taking offense from speech in order to promote an inclusive and diverse college environment. Colleges have a responsibility to maintain a welcoming environment for all students on campus regardless of their race or religion. However, questions to how

Throughout the 20th Century, American colleges and universities gained the reputation of being bastions of free speech and the discussion of ideas. While universities in Europe became less and less free, cowering to political correctness, American universities fiercely debated every major issue that faced the country. Most importantly though, liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, Atheists and Christians, all believed in the spread of ideas, and free expression. However, while our institutions of higher learning remain significantly freer than their European counterparts, that reputation of freedom of speech is in doubt. Students and faculty are increasingly resentful towards anyone they deem to be perpetuating hate speech, a term that has spun wildly out of control. The Framers of the Constitution certainly never wished that their great experiment of a nation would succumb to the suppression of those with unpopular ideas, especially at the places in which children are expected to become adults, and explore new, and often provocative ideas. (I wonder) Whether it 's the 40% of millennials who believe "hate speech" should be banned by the government, the screaming at and uninviting speakers with conservative beliefs, or the fear of speaking out,, the First Amendment is under attack in 2016, but is not yet lost. This generation will have to choose whether or not they want an Orwellian government that dictates what is and isn 't an acceptable belief. The First

Free speech is something the constitution promised, but it seems as if the people of this country suddenly forget about it. Free speech is a given with America, as most countries do not have free speech. Some people may even immigrate to America for free speech rights. Now, apparently, free speech is offending so many sensitive teens, and all who offend others another shall be “silenced” by their peers. Colleges are a victim of this epidemic, where students decide that offending material or speech should be shushed. There are even places where

Our research is intended to help the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Academic Affairs Office and Campus Climate Office better understand student attitudes toward free speech and student opinions about how the university should respond to controversial incidents. Our research objectives are to assess student’s attitudes towards free speech, determine how common it is for students to be directly affected by free speech controversies on campus, determine how willing students are to engage in free speech, and discover if students believe that the university responds to incidents appropriately. We sent an electronic survey to 1300 randomly selected UWL students and received 104 responses, an 8% response rate.

The freedom of speech has become a huge point at issue especially on college campuses and in public spaces. An individual’s free speech rights become incredibly important during class discussion, and conferring with others on possibly controversial subjects. The freedom of speech is critical to a student’s college education, as the role of a college campus is to discuss with other individuals, and explore new ideas and opinions. Exploring new ideas on campus and even in public spaces everywhere requires healthy, productive debate with others. If an individual is fearful of suppression or judgment when stating their opinion, new ideas will never develop. Suzanne Nossel’s article titled “How We Communicate is Changing. So Should The Way We Think About Free Speech,” discusses the role of a college

"In recent times, many colleges and universities in the United States have retreated from strong historical support for free speech, including the dis-invitation of speakers, promulgation of speech codes that prohibit what is deemed "offensive speech," and students protesting the participation of politically unpopular speakers on campus, including those widely regarded as outside the mainstream as well as those who are traditionalist Christians, pro-Israel, anti-abortion, or otherwise conservative."(Eliott)

America is known as The Land of Freedom, basically we are entitled for legal freedom to do whatever we wanted to. However, the freedom of speech has been challenged by many university students and educators recently. In their argument, they believe that free speech has triggered students’ unhappiness and jeopardize campus’ safety. What is the free speech or freedom of speech? According to dictionary, freedom of speech is the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion and etcetera.

Our right of free speech is diminishing every year. College campuses are barring conservative speakers and provocateur from speaking because of the feelings of a few. A prime example is former Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos, of whose speakings were canceled at U.C. Berkeley for a riot being initiated by college students and professors against his beliefs. There are many more instances of colleges, whose sole purpose is to induce new ways of thinking and intellectualism, have shut down speakers because of their

Hi Stacy, this was an interesting article to read. I, too, found an article on free speech about college students and their rights to speak concerning the First Amendment. I believe in speaking up and speaking out, for what’s right. Moreover, I agree with Greg Lukianoff when he mentions college and universities will succeed if they help students to understand the importance of free speech, by being good models. Also, a good point you make is, students should tolerate and allow key speakers to attend their colleges and allow them to speak. Good article!