Free Speech on College Campuses Essay - 1250 Words

Kenzie Winkler Due: May 16th 2011 WR 122/ Wilde Final Essay #2 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†¦show more content†¦Despite their opinions, free speech was a great way in this situation for students to rally together and publically inform the rest of campus of their beliefs. In the school newspaper, The Daily Emerald, CJ Ciaramelle wrote â€Å"About 300 students from across the campus community — student unio ns, Greek Life, the ASUO, the Survival Center, the Women’s Center — showed up at the meeting to protest the Forum† (1). Although the majority of people protested against the forum the right to free speech, it is important because it allows students to make decisions on their own and invite students to do the same. â€Å"Free speech† often has negative connotations because the negative outcomes are publicized more than the positive outcomes. ‘Free Speech’ is a time for individuals to express their beliefs and topic on an important issue. People chose to present themselves in a vast majority of ways such as, holding signs, making t-shirts, shouting, etc. People who chose to present themselves in disrupting ways such as, foul language, inappropriate attire are more likely to be noticed than another student that is holding a simple and respectful sign. Schmidt states, â€Å"Universities cannot censor or suppress speech, no matter how obnoxious in content, without violating their justification of existence† (2). There is no definition of what type of ‘free speech’ should be censored and not allowed. With that said, there should not be a limit on ‘free speech’Show MoreRelated The Anti-Free Speech Movement on Americas College Campuses Essay928 Word s   |  4 PagesThe Anti-Free Speech Movement on Americas College Campuses The nations leftists, whether in academia or the news media tout themselves as advocates of free speech. Back in 1964, it was Mario Savio a campus leftist who led the Free Speech Movement at the Berkeley campus of the University of California, a movement that without question played a vital role in placing American universities center stage in the flow of political ideas no matter how controversial, unpatriotic and vulgar. 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