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The importance of freedom of speech at universities
Academic essay about freedom of speech at universities
The importance of free speech in universities
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An issue which is ongoing involves First Amendment rights to free speech at the University of California Berkeley. Berkeley, on the founders of the free speech movement in the 1960s, has been a centerfield for individuals using their right to speech on a public college campus (Chicago Tribune, 2017). Recently though, Berkeley has been the center for debate for the possibility of restricting student speech beyond what the Constitution may allow. The university canceled a speech that was supposed to be given by an outspoken conservative, Ann Coulter on April 27, 2017. The administrations excuse for the cancellation was that the speech may jeopardize safety on the campus, calling for a “heckler's veto” – which administrations use to silence speech deemed to elicit violence from a crowd. Later it was announced after much dismay from the students, especially from the university’s College Republicans, who proclaimed a violation of free speech, the …show more content…
New York (1952), where the question asked by the Court was whether Feiner, a student at Syracuse University, was rightfully arrested due to a believed breach of the peace during a speech he gave where the police felt violence would ensue by the public. In a six-to-three opinion, the Court ruled in Feiner’s arrest and the police decision to arrest. The majority authored by Chief Justice Fred Vinson, cited that the police arrest of Feiner was the greatest interest to maintain the peace and avoid violence. The majority opinion also provides a standard for regulating speech, acknowledging that policy authority cannot be used to suppress views held as unpopular, however when a speaker moves away from arguments and towards inciting violence and rioting, the speaker is then without power to prevent the violence, then suppression of speech may take place (340 U.S.
The district court found the disruptive-conduct rule unconstitutionally vague and broad, and that withdrawal of the student's name from the graduation speaker's list violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because the rule did not mention such removal as a likely sanction. The court made the case that nothing in the Constitution forbids the states from insisting that certain forms of expression are unfitting and subject to sanctions. (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 1969) The court affirmed that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."(Tinker) If the student had given the same speech off the school premises, he would not have been penalized because government officials found his language inappropriate.
This is a case of great importance because it addresses the issue of the broadness of the First Amendment as well as student’s freedom of speech rights being limited based on vicinity and because they are students. From this case it can be concluded that the courts were indecisive in their decision making process and that they will continue to interpret the First Amendment to their suiting and not as it is written. Finally, schools do need to have the right to enforce policies that are beneficial to the students.
The daunting task of violating a social norm, something that I could be ostracized and ridiculed for, I still chose to do. Social norms are the rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society. Doing weird things in public while surrounded by strangers is a recipe for disaster, especially for somebody like myself. I am awkward and have plenty of trouble talking to new people. Most of us are told not to talk to strangers when we are younger because there are all sorts of crazy people out there. There could not be a better way to break out of my shell and violate a social norm than to sit down and talk to total strangers while they eat.
As outlined in the film, “Berkeley in the 60’s,” the direction of the free speech movement was not concretely defined right from the outset.
Hall, K. (2002, September 13). Free speech on public college campuses overview. Retrieved from http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/free-speech-on-public-college-campuses
I always remember what my grandmother said to me, “Be careful what you say, what words you use because they can destroy or give hope. Once they are said never could be deleted it from people’s hearts.” That day I learned that words are powerful. According to the article “Free Speech: Westboro Church Supreme Court Case First Amendment” in Christian Science Monitor, author Warren Richey discusses about The First Amendment to define what is offensive and it shows historical facts where the Supreme Court is using the First Amendment to resolve the cases about offensive speech. Also, the author describes people in favor and against of offensive speech. The author concluded that offensive speech should not be banned because free speech is the free
...o school. The dissenting opinion simply argued that freedom of speech is not to be used as a disturbance. Therefore, those students’ right to expression or speech was not violated because it interfered with the classroom’s learning. There is a time and place for everything, and freedom of speech should not be used everywhere.
On the other hand, students have the right to speak out for what they believe in without having any interference; they have the right to voice their opinion. This protection is all due to the first amendment protection. The first amendment protects the students and also the teachers’ freedom of speech, that includes during and out of school. With the protection of the first amendment no person is able to violate your right to freedom of speech. Any pers...
Earlier this month in April, student protestors rioted at Berkley University because they did not want certain Conservative guest speakers to be able to give speeches at the university due to some of the speakers comments being inappropriate. According to the nonprofit organization committed to defending civil liberties named The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), "One worrisome trend undermining open discourse in the academy is the increased push by some students and faculty to 'disinvite' speakers with whom they disagree from campus appearances" (The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education). While the protesters were practicing their first amendment right to petition, the students were infringing upon the Conservative speakers freedom of speech which is unconstitutional. Just because the protesters may have disagreed with the speakers comments, does not mean that theys hould have prevented them from being able to express them. This is similar to the novel 1984 because the protestors controlled and censored what was able to be said at Berkeley University, just like how in the novel the Thought Police controlled what citizens said just because The Party disagreed with certain perspectives and didn’t want certain information to be
In the United States, free speech is protected by the First Amendment in which it states, “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion … or abridging the freedom of speech.” Now, nearly 250 years into the future, the exact thing that the Founding Fathers were afraid of is starting to happen. Today, our freedom of speech is being threatened through different forces, such as the tyranny of the majority, the protection of the minority, and the stability of the society. Now, colleges and universities in the United States today are also trying to institute a code upon its students that would bar them from exercising their right to speak freely in the name of protecting minorities from getting bullied. This brings us into
College campuses have always been the sites where students can express their opinions without fear. There have been many debates about the merits of allowing free speech on campus. Some students and faculties support allowing free speech on campus, while others believe that colleges should restrict free speech to make the college’s environment safer for every student. Free speeches are endangered on college campuses because of trigger warning, increasing policing of free speech, and the hypersensitivity of college students.
Censorship in School Libraries The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional.
After the 2nd World War, Japan was under the supervision of US which lasted for seven years from 1945-1952 (Kumano, 2007). Within the period of US occupation there were some political changes in Japan including the formation of New Constitution drafted and prepared by the US occupation forces. In the Constitution, Article 9 is the main focus where it imposed restrictions on Japan’s use of force. It is written in Article 9 that Japan forever renounce the use of force to settle international disputes and the right to maintain land, sea, and air forces or any war potential (The American Occupation of Japan, 1945-1952, 2009). In other words, Japan is not allowed to launch military attack and send troops to protect and assist their allies.
One instance of free speech controversy was when a fraternity member of the University Of Maryland had an email leaked of which he said very derogatory and racist remarks about women and shaming them on their appearance. When this email was leaked it created a widespread of controversy and anger among the country. The difficult part in this was that by popular opinion many would want to expel the student who wrote that email but lawyers suggest that by doing so would violate the student 's constitutional rights to freedom of expression. The problem with labeling this kind of behavior as hate speech and trying to suppress vulgar language is no matter how vile the language is it is protected under the first amendment of the constitution. Universities have come together in trying to diffuse this kind of behavior by adding codes of conduct that prohibit certain forms of speech from being permitted on campus. These initiatives have been challenged by civil liberty groups who feel that by prohibiting certain forms of speech the universities are restricting students on their first amendment rights and has to be cautious on what they say as one minor joke could be taken the wrong
Freedom of speech is the right given to every individual. Everyone has been given the right to speak their mind and share their opinions. This right is always important but in higher learning, it is essential. Without freedom of speech the whole idea of higher education would just be a contradiction. When an institute of higher education tries to resist this right the whole purpose of the institute becomes contradicted. One needs their right to freely speak their mind for higher education to be a successful venture. The right to free speech is essential in higher education because it gives the individual the chance to fearlessly be who they are, the mind substance to develop and, the opportunity to bring better ideas about.