The Influence Of Freedom Of Speech On College Campuses

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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 assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (Trager, Ross & Reynolds.p52). The United States is known its freedom and many take pride knowing they have these amendments to protect them. However, many college campuses have limited student’s freedom of speech. Today, college campuses have “free-speech zones” and discussions in lectures are becoming increasingly more constrained.
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From sidewalk-sized “free-speech zones” to the criminalization of microaggressions, America’s college campuses look and feel a lot more like an authoritarian dictatorship than they do the academic hubs of the modern free world” (Time.com). After graduating from university many college students will never understand the importance of Freedom of Speech. This limitation of free speech can have damaging effects on not only college students but high school students and elementary school students. College campuses need to start allowing students to have their full deserving right of free speech. By limiting college student’s free speech is silencing our students and young people and is potentially dangerous to our future