Hate Speech In Colleges

Words: 1047
Pages: 5
Open Document
Hate speech has been a highly debated topic at colleges as of late. As more and more cases of protests and expulsions have popped up, deciding what to do with students using hate speech has been an issue. Many students, especially minority groups, feel threatened by the words of others. Colleges have begun trying to suppress this free speech by implementing speech codes and punishing students for racially charged actions. Colleges claim they have implemented this to protect their students and make their campus a safe space, or a place people can relax without being made uncomfortable. Others have protested against these rules, declaring them unconstitutional under the First Amendment. Although suppressing free speech will make students feel …show more content…
But, he shouldn’t have removed the fraternity or expelled the two students. The purpose of a university is to learn and discuss through dialogue. By suppressing the voices of students, you suppress their ability to learn. Discussion is the only way to learn the rationale behind the racist chants and attempt to persuade them that their thinking is wrong or flawed. For example, Derek Black, a former white nationalist, believed in very radical ideas. Most of his ideological standpoints were seen as offensive by his peers. Many of them threatened Derek, or called him names. But one Jewish man, Matthew Stephenson, asked him if he would like to come over for dinner. He believed that his rationale was formed because he never spent enough time with a minority to get to know them. Gradually, Matthew and Derek became friends and Derek’s viewpoints began to change. He started to doubt his past beliefs and ended up believing the exact opposite of what he used to believe in. He is now a leftist who supports Clinton and was scared of the ideologies of Trump, ideas he helped spread (Saslow). This shows the power of dialogue. If Derek’s freedom of speech was suppressed, he probably would still believe his white supremacist ideas. Him being able to freely express his opinions allowed others to interact with him and persuade him that his opinions are flawed. So, if the two …show more content…
The committee wrote an email to the student body asking students to steer clear from socially unaware and insensitive Halloween costumes. Erika wrote that students should be able to wear whatever they would like, even if it meant offending people (Stack). Her email lead to an argument between the student body and her husband, Nicholas, where the student body complained that he and his wife were not creating a ‘safe space’ for the students and demanded an apology. When he was unwilling to apologize, the students became outraged, cursing and yelling at Mr. Christakis (Stack). Jonathan Holloway, the dean of Yale, agreed with the original email, which advised students to be socially aware of people’s feelings and dress accordingly for Halloween. He claims he wants to get rid of the “poisonous atmosphere” minority groups are feeling
Show More

Related Documents: Hate Speech In Colleges

The Influence Of Hate Speech On College Campuses

have stayed unsolved because college students have not brought them to light? This happens when hate speech is not permitted in college and speech codes are adopted. College authorities are now adopting speech codes or policies to quickly stop critics and speeches that offend others. When in fact, they are only stopping the conflict, but not solving it. According to the American Civil Liberties Union. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects speech no matter how offensive its…

Words 545 - Pages 3

The Consequences Of Hate Speech

anti-religious hate crimes targeted Jew; 16% targeted Muslims”. Hate crime and hate speech are like gas and car; one thing cannot live without the other. Much of the time hate speech was the main reason of cause a hate crime. Hate speech has a long history of the United States no matter before slavery or after slavery. In the beginning, most the hate speech was target African American, but in late on the day hate speech were against mankind. Many states passed a law in the 1980s and 1990s forbidding hate speech…

Words 260 - Pages 2

Search and Seizure in Public Schools Essay

purpose of this paper is to discuss public school districts' limits on "hate" speech and reconcile those limits with the decision in Tinker v. Des Moines. Importance to Education To avoid disturbance and disruption and to create and maintain a safe learning environment, public schools often adopt policies that forbid certain acts on the part of students. Included in many of these policies are prohibitions on hate speech. The opinion of the court in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) broadly stated…

Words 1913 - Pages 8

Hate Speech Banning Essay

digital world is equivalent to wearing the yellow star. (Gunaratna) Hate speech has always been a weapon. Banning speech, much like banning assault weapons, hands even greater power to the privileged. There is a dangerous precedence with four in ten millennials saying that the government should limit speech considered offensive to minorities on the college campus. (Poushter) So what exactly is hate speech? “Hate speech is a communication…

Words 2383 - Pages 10

ENWR105 Essay1

people of the United States believe that “hate speech” and political incorrectness should not be protected under the First Amendment because they believe it can ultimately entail violence and disturbance. Some believe that it is difficult to fathom the First Amendment when it guarantees the freedom of religion; meanwhile a certain religion may allow people to commit unlawful and devious acts. The First Amendment assures freedom of religion, freedom of speech and press, and the right to assemble and…

Words 1245 - Pages 5

Speech Codes In College Essay

College students are getting angry at the fact that the government controls what they can or cannot say. Most college students find out what they believe and how to act on in during their college experience so the “speech codes” of them not being able to state their own thoughts are provoked. The main issue with the speech codes are that they are afraid someone will get offended, and then they call this hate speech. Most people don’t understand the difference between hate speech and just speaking…

Words 505 - Pages 3

speech codes and affirmative action Essay

reasoning on how universities and colleges should promote racial equality. I will discuss why institutions should not use racially conscious admissions and speech codes if they want to promote racial equality and diversity, using the consequentialist approach. I will propose alternatives, proposing first an outreach program to low-income individuals as an alternative to racially conscious admissions and second, the Devine program as an alternative to speech codes. I will explain my reasoning…

Words 1941 - Pages 8

Should Colleges Allow Freedom Of Speech Or Safe Space

One issue of this day in time is should colleges allow freedom of speech or safe space, and I believe in freedom of speech. The campus should allow the speaker to come and speak to students who are choosing to go because people who believe in what that speaker has to say shouldn’t be stopped because a limited amount of people disagree with what person is trying to convey. Free speech is apart of America and it doesn't just happen on a college campus but everywhere a person goes. A person can say…

Words 207 - Pages 1

The Influence Of Freedom Of Speech On College Campuses

Freedom of Speech on College Campuses Introduction On December 15, 1791, the First Amendment of the United States was ratified. As a United States citizen, we have the right to freedom of speech. According to the textbook Law of Journalism and Mass Communication our first amendment guarantees that “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…

Words 688 - Pages 3

Commencement Speech, Kenyon College

“The Lesson” by Tony Cade Bambara, and the essay “Commencement Speech, Kenyon College” by David Foster Wallace, convey that a person should be aware of their surrounding to develop the way that person thinks from that point on. In the story “The Lesson” you have a group of poor inner city kids who are taken on a day trip by a college educated older lady to a toy store that caters to the wealthy. In the “Commencement Speech, Kenyon College” the speaker talks to the graduating class about how their live…

Words 737 - Pages 3