2008 Woodie Awards
Freedom of speech threatened at collegiate level
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Opinion
In the United States Constitution, the First Amendment says "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."
Apparently, some of the universities in Pennsylvania did not get the message.
Two Pennsylvania college students filed federal civil rights lawsuits against Penn State and Temple University. The students were represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, which is a legal group known for its supporting religious expression.
That is just the latest chapter in a growing problem across the United States. The problem is institutions trying to limit complete free speech to keep those various institutions running at a comfort level that pleases the administration.
Limiting free speech seems to be especially problematic at the collegiate level. Private universities have the power to censor student newspapers if they object with any of the content found in the publications. Also, currently there is a law being debated in the Pennsylvania State Senate trying to possibly limit academic freedom by professors that like to talk about politics.
Free speech and the First Amendment is just one reason why this country is so great and diversified. People should be able to accept differing views with an understanding and a respect towards those views. Is everybody going to agree with these views? Of course not. The Rocket could have the greatest journalistic article in the history of time, and there would be at least one person out there that would disagree or sneer at it. People need to accept the right to speak, not necessarily the view of that person.
And it's doubly confusing why colleges are limiting academic freedom. Students go to college to earn an education, and be in a classroom where tight-clad rules on language and speech are loosened; thus making the classroom experience become much more enjoyable. Depending on where you went to high school, restrictions on speech were everywhere. They ranged from not wearing hats, to have prim and proper speech, to in some cases, uniforms. Let's not turn the classroom environment in college to one where the student hesitates before making a public thought.
Apparently, some of the universities in Pennsylvania did not get the message.
Two Pennsylvania college students filed federal civil rights lawsuits against Penn State and Temple University. The students were represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, which is a legal group known for its supporting religious expression.
That is just the latest chapter in a growing problem across the United States. The problem is institutions trying to limit complete free speech to keep those various institutions running at a comfort level that pleases the administration.
Limiting free speech seems to be especially problematic at the collegiate level. Private universities have the power to censor student newspapers if they object with any of the content found in the publications. Also, currently there is a law being debated in the Pennsylvania State Senate trying to possibly limit academic freedom by professors that like to talk about politics.
Free speech and the First Amendment is just one reason why this country is so great and diversified. People should be able to accept differing views with an understanding and a respect towards those views. Is everybody going to agree with these views? Of course not. The Rocket could have the greatest journalistic article in the history of time, and there would be at least one person out there that would disagree or sneer at it. People need to accept the right to speak, not necessarily the view of that person.
And it's doubly confusing why colleges are limiting academic freedom. Students go to college to earn an education, and be in a classroom where tight-clad rules on language and speech are loosened; thus making the classroom experience become much more enjoyable. Depending on where you went to high school, restrictions on speech were everywhere. They ranged from not wearing hats, to have prim and proper speech, to in some cases, uniforms. Let's not turn the classroom environment in college to one where the student hesitates before making a public thought.
