Debate: Freedom of Speech on College Campuses - English 150 Essay

This essay explores the controversial topic of free speech on college campuses, arguing that colleges should not avoid expressing opinions and ideas that may make students uncomfortable. It discusses the creation of safe spaces for marginalized groups, the debate over censorship and political correctness, and the impact of inviting controversial speakers. The essay references examples such as the protests at Wesleyan University and the costs associated with security for high-profile speakers. It highlights the importance of incorporating 'uncomfortable speech' for profound learning and suggests that banning free speech can negatively impact future leaders. The essay concludes that more conversations and debates are necessary to address various issues related to free speech on college campuses. Desklib offers a variety of resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their academic endeavors.

Running head: COLLEGE ENGLISH 150
College English 150
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Thesis statement: College Campuses should not avoid expressing opinions and ideas that
make students uncomfortable.
When it comes to college campuses dealing with international students, one can find
sexual assault victims, people of colour and transgender students. It has been found that majority
of the colleges have created safe spaces for students who belong to the marginal groups.
However, the open-minded atmosphere of the college campus several times gets embraced by
both the students as well as the faculties of the colleges. One of the chief reasons behind this is
due to a difference in opinions and ideologies among student aboutwhat freedom of speech
actually is. When it comes to free speeches in the college campus, several complaints about the
censorship as well as the political correctness of the nation’s campus has been raised. Several
high profile speakers that include Condoleeza Rice, Christine Lagarde and others are not allowed
to generate their speech in the college campus since several students feel uncomfortable with
their speech. In this report, whether free speech should be banned in college campuses or not has
been debated over.
Considering the fact that a good number of international colleges in US have students
from different cultural and the background, freedom of speech is a highly crucial factor that
should be incorporated in the policies of the college campuses. If opinions from the opposite
side are not welcomed, students will never be able to experience growth. Challenging opinions
helps an individual to sharpen or change his point of view (Camilla Turner).According to Sir,
Michael Barber, the new higher education regulator of UK, it is crucial to incorporate
‘uncomfortable speech ‘ in college campuses for profound learning of the students. According to
him, each and every student should stand to protect his freedom of speech. A recent threat to
‘freedom of speech’ was encountered in Wesleyan University wherea 150 years old College

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newspaper evidenced threat of funding cutoff from the student government for publishing a
conservative op-ed. The mentioned op-ed was written by Bryan Stascavage, an Iranian student of
the mentioned university and there he had criticized the tacticsof ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement
(washingtonpost.com). In spite of the fact that no racial stereotyping or name calling was there in
the essay, this op-ed led to a massive protest by the college students. This in turn, discouraged
Stascavage and he made his mind to transfer his University. However, the Wesleyan admission
supported Stascavage and declared that ‘Black lives Matter and so Does Free Speech’.
However, according to Ellis, certain types of speeches should be restricted in colleges
that include, racist speeches, sexist speeches and speeches that make students feel unsafe and
uncomfortable. According to a Survey conducted by the mentioned source, more than half of the
colleges in US have supported the opinion that speeches which fall under the above mentioned
categories should be prohibited in the campus (Christopher and Christopher). According to
Pranav Jandhyala, the founder of Non-partisan campus Group at Berkeley, there is a basic
difference in hate speech and free speech. The mentioned organization was forced to cancel
the speech by Yiannopoulos an eminent speaker just to prevent further damage to the College.
The decision was taken by the college authority after massive destruction of the property costs
100,000 dollars, of the college by the students. According to the college authority, violence is the
least welcomed factor in an organization. Besides that, several students are found to take
advantages of freedom of speeches.
Moreover, according to Turner, hiring popular speakers for providing speeches in the
college costs lot. Public colleges are found to be investing in a huge amount of money to provide
extra layers of security when the college is visited by controversial leaders. For instance, the
University of California had invested 2.5 million dollars on the security of a popular

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controversial speaker in 1960 (forbes.com). Along with that, these speeches are followed by
violent protests in the majority of the cases and huge destruction of the colleges’ property occurs.
Cutting down the delivery of unpopular views in college campuses will impose
profoundly negative impact on the enthusiasm of the future leaders. Moreover, it will generate a
wrong message to the students that they may act fragile when it comes tolerate opinions of other
individuals that makes them feel uncomfortable. If freedom of speech is banned in college
campuses, students will get used to shred, disinvite and shut down instead of rebutting. The only
solution to uncomfortable speech should more conversations and debates that bears the
potentiality of solving various issues.

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References:
Camilla Turner. "Students Should Be Made To Feel 'Uncomfortable' So They Can Learn, Chair
Of The Office For Students Says". The Telegraph, 2018,
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/11/23/students-should-made-feel-uncomfortable-
learn-chair-ofthe-office/. Accessed 9 Apr 2018.
Ellis, Christopher, and Christopher Ellis. "Analysis | Do Americans Support Free Speech On
College Campuses? Absolutely. Except Sometimes.". Washington Post, 2018,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/11/08/do-americans-support-free-
speech-on-college-campuses-absolutely-except-sometimes/?utm_term=.36b031677093.
Accessed 9 Apr 2018.
forbes.com. "Forbes Welcome". Forbes.Com, 2018,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinesimon/2017/11/20/free-speech-isnt-free-its-costing-
college-campuses-millions/#635c98051ee7. Accessed 9 Apr 2018.
washingtonpost.com. "Opinions". Washingtonpost.Com, 2018,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/free-speech-is-flunking-out-on-college-campuses/
2015/10/22/124e7cd2-78f5-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html?utm_term=.06273261f46b.
Accessed 9 Apr 2018.