by Rachel Nguyen
Debating is often rooted in the idea of a free society: the freedom to be who you are, to speak your mind and to thrive. Unfortunately, things have changed. Many college campuses have proved that participating in an open debate is threatening, especially when discussing politics.
An attempt to reconcile sparking debates vulnerable to students has no easy answers. On today’s college campuses, struggles over speech extend well beyond expression and into one that causes physical harm.
University campuses are now home to a plethora of speech restrictions. In recent weeks, many college campuses around the country have experienced major student protests. It stems from the fact that more and more American universities are quick to shut down opposing political ideas or views.
In opposition, many students and faculty members are stifling speech on campus themselves to avoid any controversial causes and ideas. Often they interrupted, or in some cases, halted appearances by polarizing speakers, and plaguing speeches and rallies held on campus.
In colleges, such as the University of California, Berkeley, these beliefs are further built on by the recent rise of the “antifa” movement, which professes to stand up against fascism.
Having declared their school term a “year of free speech,” Berkeley students have recently opted to protest against conservative events violently.
An attempt to reconcile sparking debates vulnerable to students has no easy answers. On today’s college campuses, struggles over speech extend well beyond expression and into one that causes physical harm.
University campuses are now home to a plethora of speech restrictions. In recent weeks, many college campuses around the country have experienced major student protests. It stems from the fact that more and more American universities are quick to shut down opposing political ideas or views.
In opposition, many students and faculty members are stifling speech on campus themselves to avoid any controversial causes and ideas. Often they interrupted, or in some cases, halted appearances by polarizing speakers, and plaguing speeches and rallies held on campus.
In colleges, such as the University of California, Berkeley, these beliefs are further built on by the recent rise of the “antifa” movement, which professes to stand up against fascism.
Having declared their school term a “year of free speech,” Berkeley students have recently opted to protest against conservative events violently.
When several conservative political commentators, such as Milo Yiannopoulos and Ben Shapiro, were scheduled to speak on campus, administration at Berkeley hired security precaution of militarized police officers that costed the school thousands of dollars. In the aftermath of one event, shattered windows and smashed ATM machines were left in the protesting against right-wing Yiannopoulos, who is well-known for making controversial statements.
“I respect free speech, but I think there is a sort of degree of having to limit some of it because even if some people have valid points, we have to understand that a lot of people have different breaking points; certain phrases, terms, or ideas that might cause them to negatively affect it,” says Kevin Lin, an English teacher at Yerba Buena High School.
As a teacher, he tries to find a balance between critical thinking and personal well-being for his students within the classroom realm.
Unlike Mr. Lin, some professors at universities have endorsed and engaged in protecting free speech by suppressing other speeches. They strictly have shield students from opposing political views through “safe spaces” and “political correctness.”
What people have noticed is that political correction does not open much room for discussion. Rather, it shuts people down, and does not give them much room to talk.
James Pham, a sophomore at UC Davis, offers his insight on the concept of free speech as a college student. Having been to one of UC Berkeley's conservative speakers held rallies, he notices that everyone he has talked to there support free speech.
“They make really broad generalized statements. Some of the interesting things that a lot of the protesters said are that they like free speech, but at the same time they don’t think that everyone should be able to say what they want,” he says.
The most common arguments he has encountered at the event was that protesters say people can have free speech, but they should not be allowed to say everything they want. The second is that conservative speakers, such as Ben Shapiro, should not be given any police protection.
For many high school and college students, a school survey conducted shows that 60% believe that offensive speech ought to be prohibited and punished, but majority of those surveyors disagree with the idea that violence should stigmatize guest speakers.
“For me, personally, the reason why I think that free speech is important because free speech literally to me is the most of having freedom,” says James.
And it is here in the United States. Freedom of speech is protected in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Although many universities have claim this, debate remains if whether they can tolerate all kinds of speeches on campus- even if it means that speech is offensive or hateful.
“I respect free speech, but I think there is a sort of degree of having to limit some of it because even if some people have valid points, we have to understand that a lot of people have different breaking points; certain phrases, terms, or ideas that might cause them to negatively affect it,” says Kevin Lin, an English teacher at Yerba Buena High School.
As a teacher, he tries to find a balance between critical thinking and personal well-being for his students within the classroom realm.
Unlike Mr. Lin, some professors at universities have endorsed and engaged in protecting free speech by suppressing other speeches. They strictly have shield students from opposing political views through “safe spaces” and “political correctness.”
What people have noticed is that political correction does not open much room for discussion. Rather, it shuts people down, and does not give them much room to talk.
James Pham, a sophomore at UC Davis, offers his insight on the concept of free speech as a college student. Having been to one of UC Berkeley's conservative speakers held rallies, he notices that everyone he has talked to there support free speech.
“They make really broad generalized statements. Some of the interesting things that a lot of the protesters said are that they like free speech, but at the same time they don’t think that everyone should be able to say what they want,” he says.
The most common arguments he has encountered at the event was that protesters say people can have free speech, but they should not be allowed to say everything they want. The second is that conservative speakers, such as Ben Shapiro, should not be given any police protection.
For many high school and college students, a school survey conducted shows that 60% believe that offensive speech ought to be prohibited and punished, but majority of those surveyors disagree with the idea that violence should stigmatize guest speakers.
“For me, personally, the reason why I think that free speech is important because free speech literally to me is the most of having freedom,” says James.
And it is here in the United States. Freedom of speech is protected in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Although many universities have claim this, debate remains if whether they can tolerate all kinds of speeches on campus- even if it means that speech is offensive or hateful.