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Argumentative Essay: What Campuses Can and Can’t Do and Connection to Current

Events

Thesis Statement:

Campuses have a limitation to what they can and cannot do regarding enhancing freedom

of speech, creating new spaces, and microaggressions, as these have a close connection to the

current events in the world today.

Introduction:

According to Chemerinsky and Gilman, "Free Speech on Campus" is an opening of three

specific aspects, including trigger warnings, safe spaces, and microaggressions. The two

advocate that there is the need to ensure mutual comprehension of the roles and the essentiality

of various terms. Further, they reject the fact that universities should use concepts such as

protecting students from exposure to offensive or disagreeable ideas. Campuses should, however,

create safe spaces for students, but they should not use the safe spaces to impose offensive ideas

on the students.

Propositions

1. Trigger Warnings

I. Creation of Safe Spaces to allow students to express their free will: On campuses

today, students have the “Freedom of speech." They are allowed to point out their
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views, elect their student leaders, and through them, they can present their ideas.

Colleges and universities have given students free spaces.

II. Students deserve the right to be represented by their leaders in the faculties and

have their ideas represented.

2. Free Spaces

I. Free spaces should not be used as a way of exposing students to offensive ideas,

materials, and thoughts. In the world today, campuses are being faced with

racism.

II. Free spaces should not intimidate others in favor of others rather be spaces that

enhance equality and freedom to all.

3. Micro-aggressions

I. Campuses cannot prohibit students from utilizing specific words that may be

considered as examples of micro-aggressions. However, the same campuses can

sensitize students on the effect of using specific words with the aim of creating

respectful and learning surroundings for each and every one.

II. The issue, however, is not banning the use of words or sensitizing on the impact

of specific words; it's the reasons why the words are used and how effective

students can refrain from using them.

III. Students use these terms to be a part of a social class, while it's the exact words

that universities like Lake Superior State University are banishing due to the

increased state of misuse, overuse, and the general uselessness.

Bibliography

Chemerinsky, Erwin, and Howard Gillman. Free Speech On Campus. 2015.

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In “Free Speech on Campus” by Chemerinsky and Howard, they discuss the various

aspects that are included in the campus free speech debate. These issues include trigger

warnings, safe spaces, and micro-aggressions. In their speech, they tend to place each of

the concepts within a greater context of their debate. They put themselves in a position

such that they ensure a clear comprehension of the role and the essentiality of various

concepts but also they reject some ideas such as the use of safe spaces to protect the

students from offensive materials. This resource will be helpful in the essay as it gives an

outline of the various concepts that are to be included and excluded in campuses.

Chemerinsky, Erwin, and Howard Gillman. Free Speech On Campus (What Campuses Can And

Can't Do). pp. 546-550.

"What Campuses Can and Can't Do" by Erwin and Howard tend to give a controversial

debate the three main concepts outlined in the "Free speech in Campus" Campuses can do

the following, including providing warnings before the presentation of offensive

materials, creating of free spaces, and sensitize students and faculties on the use of certain

words. However, the same campuses cannot prohibit the students from using certain

words that may be considered macroaggressions. Additionally, they cannot understand

the concepts of free spaces to censor the expression of offensive ideas and impose trigger

warnings before the presentation of offensive materials to the student. This resource is

essential to the essay as it gives a go-ahead of precisely what the campuses are supposed

to do and what they are limited to doing.

Locke, Leslie Ann, and Teniell L. Trolian. "Microaggressions And Social Class Identity In

Higher Education And Student Affairs." New Directions For Student Services, vol 2018,

no. 162, 2018, pp. 63-74. Wiley, doi:10.1002/ss.20262.

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“ Microaggressions and Social Class Identity in Higher Education and Student Affairs”

by Lockie and Teniell express the various words that have been banished from being used

by students on campuses in an effort of creating a surrounding that is healthy and

conducive for learning. According to Locke assssssnd Teniell, the use of these words is a

way of identifying self into specific social classes for students in higher levels of

education. Notably, it is pretty hard to stop the use of these words, but it is possible to

educate and sensitize the students and the faculties on the importance of refraining from

using these words. The resource is helpful to the essay in expounding the various micro-

aggressive words that various universities have banished and the effectiveness of the

actions taken.

PALFREY, JOHN. SAFE SPACES, BRAVE SPACES. MIT Press, 2018.

John Palfrey, in his book on "Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces," gives an outline on the various

aspects of these spaces. He, however, advocates the use of safe spaces to enhance the

freedom of speech rather than using the spaces to limit the freedom of others. The

resource is helpful to the essay as it gives an exclusive outline of what safe spaces are and

how they should be used on campuses.

Rahn, Josh. "Prepare For Controversial Speakers And High‐Profile Events On Campus."

Campus Security Report, vol 16, no. 12, 2020, pp. 1-5. Wiley, doi:10.1002/casr.30632.

Freedom of speech is something that not everyone gets to enjoy, and therefore, “ prepare

for controversial speakers and high profile events on campus" gives an outline of the

importance of freedom of speech. Are speakers allowed to express their ideas in

universities, or are they chased away? Rahn looks through the various concepts of

freedom of speech on campus and the equality of being given the freedom of speech. The
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resource will be helpful in expounding on the safe spaces and their essentiality in

enhancing the freedom of speech.

Virgin, Sheahan G. "Competing Loyalties In Electoral Reform: An Analysis Of The U.S.

Electoral College." Electoral Studies, vol 49, 2017, pp. 38-48. Elsevier BV,

doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2017.07.003.

Virgin, in her book on "Competing Loyalties In Electoral Reform: An Analysis Of The

U.S. Electoral College," expounds on the electoral reforms in the United States and their

importance in promoting democracy and giving each and everyone a chance to freedom of

expression. Our electoral college pathways to enhancing free spaces and promoting freedom of

speech? This is a question that this resource answers. This, therefore, helps in expounding on the

importance of free spaces on campus. This resource gives comprehensive examples of the

various uses of free spaces in current events today.