Free Speech Codes on Campus: Political correctness run amok?

Fox News ^ | 6-21-12 | By Maegan Vazquez

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If you thought college was a place for young people to speak out, challenges one another's deeply-held beliefs and grow intellectually, chances are you've never been to Indiana University Southeast.

The school, located just 10 miles north of Louisville, Ky., is the latest college to see its speech code come under fire from a group that advocates freedom of speech on campuses. One stipulation in the code requires that students may only "express opinions" within a free speech zone, which is antithetical to what a college should stand for, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), an advocacy organization which defends the free speech and due process rights of college students.

"It's the price you pay for living in a free society," Robert Shibley, Senior Vice President of FIRE, told FoxNews.com."The entire enterprise of a university is to express scholarly thoughts and opinions...restraints on that are impossible."

"IUS almost certainly doesn't mean this--if you want to tell your friend that you think it's hot outside, you have to go to the zone to do it...it's an indicator of just how poorly written and unconstitutional this policy is," she said.

IUS's code also requires university approval for acts of 'expressed opinions' by submitting an application at least five days in advance.

But the school defended the speech code, expressing concern the exercise of First Amendment rights outside designated zones could disrupt others' pursuit of an education.

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IUS's code also requires university approval for acts of 'expressed opinions' by submitting an application at least five days in advance.

Crazy liberals!

[WKUHilltopper]

“IUS’s code also requires university approval for acts of ‘expressed opinions’ by submitting an application at least five days in advance.”

They require their professors to do the same? In the classroom?

[nathanbedford]

The arrogance of our institutions of higher learning expands faster than the tuition they charge. Soon the whole edifice will come crashing down of the weight of its own cupidity.

Let us assume that a student violates this bizarre code and is disciplined, perhaps even expelled from the institution. Court cases have traditionally upheld that right of colleges to discipline and expel wayward students and these rights are one sidedly written into the regulations of the college. But might not a court overturn such assertions of contractual rights as contrary to public policy?

I suppose it is too much to hope that the Congress that shovels money into these institutions as fast as it can borrow it from the Chinese would condition the subsidies on the institution actually adhering to its founding purposes and respect freedom of speech.

[cgbg]

The “free speech zone” is anywhere away from that kooky campus.

The kids and their parents need to vote with their feet.

After a year of no tuition and no pay the leftist professors may re-consider—or they could hang out on streetcorners with “will work for food” signs.

[Mack the knife]

FIRE has won literally every lawsuit against State Universities, because they are subject to the First Amendment, and the First Amendment trumps speech codes.

When they receive a complaint, FIRE sends the University a letter reminding them they are subject to the First Amendment, and pointing them to the fact that they have won previous cases, and in winning have received attorneys fees. As a result, they usually cave.

FIRE has been featured in several STOSSEL episodes.

[DH]

This is a major accomplishment in Obama’s war against freedom and Constitutional rights.

Marxism and Communism are the bastion of all colleges and institutes of higher (Democrat) education.

Grade schools are our basic indoctrination centers and college is the finishing school.

It all came to be proved in the election of 2008.

Why do you think education is the only thing Obama talks about...he wants a whole generation of political zombies to overthrow America without firing a single shot.

Our children and young adults are the “frog in the boiling water.” The temperature has already reached the boiling point and they are conditioned to be totally unaware of the fact.