Shuyu Qiu

ENGL 138H

Professor Babcock

15 March, 2024

With the United States being more diverse, the US. College campuses are experiencing

struggles with tensions between free speech and diversity. Free speech on campus is usually

framed in opposition to diversity and inclusion for the potential threat of limiting cultural

diversity, and personal freedom. It can lead to possible controversies, protests, and even violence.

A recent example is the resignation of the Harvard President where she was unable to decide

whether college students calling for antisemitism on Harvard campuses violates Harvard’s code

of conduct. Therefore, several questions need to be adjusted: Are free speech and an inclusive

campus in opposition to each other? How do we balance the rights of individuals with the

responsibilities of the institution? What is the role of institutional leaders versus individuals in

creating or changing campus culture? There are three approaches to the listed questions: First is

to prioritize safety above all. Then set education in place and engage students in various

viewpoints. Last but not least is to accept controversies and unrestricted speech. All these

approaches are a possible way to go, especially focusing on students and institutional leaders

who play an essential part on campus. But most importantly, the way to foster a desired

community is to accept controversies in conversation and also try to prioritize safety above all.

Education as mentioned is an important role for students to avoid being unaware and

unrecognized with other cultural aspects. It is a safety foundation when having difficult

conversations with others. When students have a basic knowledge of cultural differences, they
would think in the shoes of others and would be more likely to see different viewpoints. Instead

of following inaccurate information that they see on social media, hearing from other students, or

being unaware. Some surveys have shown that 60% of students admitted to sharing false news

online (Spunout). Eventually, it can lead to disinformation, meaning not only believing in false

information but also intending to deceive and spread to inflict harm. Therefore, the importance of

education came to be shown. Before diving into a deep conversation, the first is to educate

students to help them understand the struggles that a specific group is going through. So, they

have more background information to tackle the controversy behind the problem. It provides

critical thinking for students in the classroom. In addition to that, false news can also be clarified

in the classroom and deepen the knowledge of the students.

But what about out in public without the supervision of a professor? If a controversial

topic happens outside of a classroom and is on the college campus, then students have to take

responsibility for their disciplinary actions. However, the idea of being responsible has to be

informed throughout the campus. Institutional leaders should provide resources to inform

different cultural backgrounds and spread awareness of hate speech for students and also enforce

them. For example, professors can make them as extra credits or a fun engagement exercise and

activity to help students get involved. The conversations may be uncomfortable but going

through the discomfort can help students to remember the conversation and understand it deeply.

This can help to minimize the potential thoughts on hate speech. Since the First Amendment

protects people’s right to express themselves freely, then students can use free speech to tackle

hate speech. Not only can they challenge hateful thoughts through words, but also through what

they wear, read, perform, and protest. Therefore, students on campuses can use the right to stand

for themselves, for someone, or for something that they truly believe in.
 Back to the example of Harvard, it allows free speech to happen even if there are

controversies. Students calling for the genocides of Jews is to some extent a threat to the Jewish

communities and the Jewish students who are on Harvard campuses. They may feel unsafe,

insecure, and scared to continue their education. As mentioned before, controversies can be

accepted but to what extent? The First Amendment protects students' right to express and do

anything that they want, but it also protects abstract advocacy of violence including all genocide.

Because calling for genocide does not directly cross the line into unprotected conduct or speech

like incitement or true threats. For example, the Brandenburg v.Ohio Supreme case made clear

that “[For] speech to fall out of First Amendment protection, it must 1) be directed at producing

imminent lawless action and 2) it is likely to produce such action” (Fire). Advocating genocide

or violence remains protected speech unless it qualifies for one of these exceptions in the specific

context of its publication. Thus, the First Amendment generally protects students peacefully

marching across the square chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," even if

such chants are interpreted as supporting ethnic cleansing or genocide against Israelis. However,

Columbia University is one of the few institutions that recently suspended pro-Palestinian

student groups, citing their “threatening rhetoric and intimidation” (Binkley). So the policy on

free speech needs to fall upon the responsibility of the institutions because it helps to prioritize

the safety of the students. Institutional values should be refined in a way to maintains a safe and

inclusive campus environment. Some considerations can be engaged in constructive protest:

Universities should allow and support peaceful and constructive protests because they are

important aspects of free speech and political participation. However, it is important to have

guidelines in place to ensure that protests do not disrupt the operations of institutions or endanger

the safety of individuals.

 In the end, institutions should establish clear policies and guidelines for students to speak

freely and engage in controversial topics while preserving safety at all times. Educational

resources should be regulated across campuses to fulfill the needs of the students and also to

spread awareness. Finally, students should also think about their behaviors and thoughts so that

they can use free speech responsibly.

 Work Cited

Binkley, Collin. “As a New Generation Rises, Tension between Free Speech and Inclusivity on

College Campuses Simmers.” AP News, 13 Jan. 2024,

apnews.com/article/campus-free-speech-young-generation-tension-b931b0dd41aacaac5c50710d

e9549b09.

​"BRANDENBURG v. OHIO." First Amendment Library. Foundation for Individual Rights and
Expression (FIRE), n.d. 15 Mar. 2024, www.thefire.org/supreme-court/brandenburg-v-ohio.
​
spunout. “What Students Think about the Impact of Fake News.” Spunout, 8 May 2019, spunout.

ie/voices/opinion/what-students-think-fake-news/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2024.