Students stand up for free speech at UI

Matt Evans 12:15 p.m. CST March 2, 2015

Matt Evans(Photo: Special to the Press-Citizen)

Freedom of speech, one of the most revered hallmarks of our democracy, is endangered on college campuses across the United States. Consider this small selection of cases, just from the past year:

A University of Tulsa student was suspended because of posts his partner made online that were critical of the university.

Peace activists at Western Michigan University were denied access to university spaces for an activism event.

Montclair State University students faced financial penalties after circulating pro-Palestine literature on campus.

And right here on the University of Iowa campus, students are required to seek official administrative approval before exercising their rights and freely expressing their ideas in an organized demonstration.

Last week, students gathered across the UI campus to speak out against these blatantly unconstitutional policies. This institution's policies are particularly troublesome because it is partially funded by taxpayers who expect their constitutional rights to be protected. Permit or not, other young citizens and I will take our message to students and the community to make clear we won't stand for free speech restrictions of any kind.

Thousands of UI students have been troubled this year by the restrictive climate manufactured by our university administrators, who tell us that our Bill of Rights is somehow at odds with respect and inclusiveness. We demand that our college administrators make a clear and vocal commitment to free speech rights.

Authorities, whether they be federal or university, shouldn't be in the position of deciding what's offensive. The First Amendment isn't designed to boost prevailing sentiment and the most popular ideas; it's meant to protect things that make us uncomfortable. Our state and federal rights do not end when we step foot on campus, and if we believe in the rule of law, we have to defend the First Amendment throughout our state institutions, college campuses included.

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Students stand up for free speech at UI