ToriTemple

RHET1312
ProfessorBeavers
ExploratoryArgumentEssay
Date
ExploratoryEssay:FreeSpeech

TheUnitedStatesconstitutionstatesinthefirstamendmenttoabridgingthe

freedomofspeech.Manyhavechallengedthisamendmentoftheconstitutionseveraltimes
sincethemakingofconstitution.Manyarguethatthefreedomofspeechisbeingtakenfor
grantedisdyingthroughoutuniversities.ThroughoutthispaperIwillbeexplainFreedomof
speechandhowitpertainstocollegeuniversities.Shouldcollegecampuseshavelimitationson
whattheycanandcannotsay?
Freedomofspeechgivespeopletherighttoexplainandsharetheiropinionswithoutthe
fearofrestraintorobstacle.Collegecampusesexpectstudentstosharetheirviewsondebatable
matters,diversity,andjustice.Freedomofspeechcannotonlymeanthefreedomtospeak
politicallyorinformativelybuttherearealsohatespeeches.Thedefinitionofahatespeechisa
speechthatattacks,threatens,orinsultsapersonorgrouponthebasisofnationalorigin,
ethnicity,color,religion,gender,genderidentity,sexualorientation,ordisability
(dictionary.com).InthisarticleFreeSpeechoncampusithasaverygoodexampleofahate
speech.AttheUniversityofMaryland,aFraternityparticipantwroteanemailstatingFellow
fraternitybrothersseekingsexwithyoungwomentof**consentandinstructedthemnotto
inviten**galsorcurrymonstersorslantedeyedchicks,unlesstheyrehot(Glazer).The
presidentoftheuniversitybasicallyfoundthattheemailisprotectedunderthefirstamendment,

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andthattherewasnothinghecoulddo.Thoughthepresidentdidleavethehatespeechtothe
firstamendmenthedoessayprotectingspeech,however,doesnotmeanagreeingwithit.and
quitehonestly,Iamstrugglingwithjustifyingthisemailasspeech.Tometheauthor'smain
purposeofthisarticlewastoshowhowfreedomofspeechonacollegecampusisnotalwaysa
goodidea.
Studentinvolvementisveryimportant,butshouldtherecruitmentprocessforadvertising
groupsbeindesignatedspots?InanotherarticleBillwouldbancollegefreespeechzonesit
saysthatlawmakersdeterminewhereandwhenstudentsoncampushavetherighttosay
something.AnthonyKernarepresentativesaidwhenhewasyoungerworkingwithachurch
groupthatwantedtohandoutmaterialatGlendaleCommunityCollegeduringJuly4th
activities.Kernsaidtherewasnoproblemforthefirstfewyears.Allofasudden,theycameup
withthisfreespeechzonewhichwaswayawayfromthepeople,whichtohimdefeatedthe
wholepurpose(Fischer).Inthisarticleitexplainsthatfreedomofspeechisallowedbuthas
somerestrictionsonwheretospeak.Itseemstomethattheauthoriswritingthearticletoshow
thedifficultyonfreedomofspeechonthiscampusis,butIpersonallythinktheschoolisbeing
givingtothestudents.ThearticlelaterthensaysAccordingtotheirlawyers,Mirelez,whoisa
studentatthecollegesetupatablelastOctoberinthespeechzonetotalkwithstudentsabout
joiningtheYoungAmericansforLibertystudentgroupsheistryingtostartoncampus.The
lawsuitsaysshewasaskedtoleavebecauseshehadnotobtainedpriorpermissionasrequiredby
collegepolicy(Fischer).Thearticlethenexplainsthathersuitagainsttheuniversitywas
basicallynotinherfavor.

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Whileothersthinkthereshouldbemorefreedomtospeakfreelyoncampus,thefaculty
isconcernedwithhurtingpeoplesfeelings.Nobodywantstostartriotsandbigarguments,so
howcanwenotletthisaffectourfreedomofspeech.TotheUniversityofWisconsin,youcant
stopspeakingoutwithoutsomeonetakingittoheart.UniversityofWisconsinSystemleaders
approvedaresolutionFridayaffirmingfreespeechandacademicfreedom,joiningcolleges
acrossthecountrythathaveofficiallyproclaimedtheirdevotiontofreeexpressionamid
concernsacademiaistryingtoprotectstudentsfrombeingoffended(RICHMOND).The
collegelaterthenhadavoteofanoutcomeof162.Statingthattheyshouldnothavetofeelthe
needofprotectingthosefromunwantedideas,quotes,opinions.Thesearenotjustprettywords
wearegoingtoputinabrassplaque,RegentJoseDelgadosaid.Theabilitytospeakinthis
countryisarational,academicwayisunderattack.Youvegottobeabletolistenhard,evenifit
hurts(RICHMOND).
Althoughtheconstitutionstatesinthefirstamendment
Congressshallmakenolaw
respectinganestablishmentofreligion,orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereoforabridgingthe
freedomofspeech,orofthepresspeoplewillstilltellyouoncollegeuniversitiesareunfair.
Everyoneintakeonhowtheuniversitiesandfreedomofspeechisdifferentandhasdifferent
meanings.Limitationsaredefinitelyputonwhatcollegecampusesshouldandshouldnotsay.As
forsomeargumentsthelimitationsshouldstaythatway.Sincethiswillbeaforeverongoing
topicIthinkstudentsanduniversitiesfacultyshouldtakeeverythingaboutourconstitution
seriously.

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WorkCited
Dictionary.com
.Dictionary.com,n.d.Web.10Feb.2016.

Glazer,Sarah.FreeSpeechonCampus.
CQResearcher.
CQPress.8May.2015.Web.
09Feb.2016

Fischer,Howard."BillWouldBanCollegeFreeSpeechZones."
ArizonaCapitalTimes
.
CapitalMediaService,n.d.Web.09Feb.2016.

Richmond,Todd."StudentsWontBeShieldedfromIdeasTheyMayNotlike."
UniversityofWisconsinProclaimsFreedomofSpeech
.N.p.,11Dec.2015.Web.09Feb.2016.