Banning Speech Codes On Campuses - 1811 Words

After recent violence activists arose in college campuses the culprit being unregulated speech. Many campuses are forming regulations on speech codes on campuses, others choose to remain unregulated. The decision is not put at ease with the first and fourteen amendment conflicting between the citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, and the right for equal educational opportunities. Is there a middle ground that allows individuals continue their education in the sanction of a college campuses while not infringing on others’ right to speech? The possibility is there were we can decide what protected and unprotected speech is without turning the first amendment into a tool of domination. The fourteen amendment Students addresses the rights†¦show more content†¦But not if they liked Gore† (Dolgow). The same cannot occur on a college campus, however the fear remains on information on others can be used or freedom of expression in a college setting. The fact remains that there is a substantial difference between a corporation and a university. Universities are meant to be a place of learning and just like science is able to accept new theories, we should be willing to accept new ideas. Building tolerance as a community allows us to embraces unpopular ideas. That being said, there is very good reasons to protect offensive or unpopular speech. During the 1950’s, minority groups didn’t have the right to vote and civil rights movements sprung across the country. Voting right activists in the South experienced various forms of mistreatment and violence. One such event on March 7, 1965, â€Å"when peaceful participants in a voting rights march fr om Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery were met by Alabama state troopers who attacked them with nightsticks, tear gas and whips after they refused to turn back† (Voting Rights Act). One can conclude based on the reactions, the decision to call in the state troopers and the state troopers attacking the protestors, that these individuals found the protest offensive and threating their values of white supremacy. Therefore, should we banned offensive or popular speech solely on the fact that these speech may make some individuals feel uncomfortable or offended? Some