Censorship+on+Campus

Tracy Hyde-Tucker-LIBS6000-#12-CensorshipOnCollegeCampuses

The last couple of years there have been a hotbed of activity regarding Freedom of Speech on college campuses across the country. There have been many new buzz phrases created and debates and protests are a daily occurrence. The thing that sets these debates apart from debates historically held on campus is the fact that the students are now censoring both the faculty and other students. Students have come to throw out the terms “safe space” and “trigger warning” at the slightest sight of political incorrectness. The irony is that the students of yesterday fought for freedom of speech (their First Amendment right) and now students are fighting to forget their rights. It’s a slippery slope to try to police the language used by others...to try to define what is considered “hate speech” to one is just insensitivity to another ear and ignorance to another ear. Still, the biggest problems with this idea are  One name frequently heard during debates about free speech is FIRE ( Foundation for Individual Rights in Education). Their website lists numerous examples of restriction of freedom of speech. They list schools as “ red light” for most obvious cases of censorship, “yellow light” for moderate instances, and so forth. They also list current and past cases with outcomes. They state that 55% of our public colleges in the United States have highly restrictive speech codes today. They feel that they have been the catalyst that brought that number down from 75 % seven years ago. Below are links to videos I found interesting on the subject. They were too numerous to list them all...
 * Amendment ** I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
 * 1) 1. These students are saying that “you may say whatever you want as long as it doesn’t offend me or my sensibilities.” However, who determines whose sensibilities are the ones to follow? What in their history allows them to believe (falsely) that their narrative is more important or accurate than anyone else’s?
 * 2) 2. Campuses are designed to challenge, enlighten and promote maturity and intellect. What is challenging about everyone submitting to your feelings?

Over 50 Yale students sign a petition to repeal the First Amendment []

 If you feel your First Amendment Rights are being threatened on campus FIRE wants to hear about it ! []