YCT stresses importance of free speech

As president of the SMU chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, Brad Julsonnet is on a mission to protect First Amendment rights for students. He and the other members of YCT want SMU students to feel free to express themselves.

To encourage freedom of speech, YCT members will be on the west bridge of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center today between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., handing out fliers to accompany 25 stake signs scattered across campus.

YCT stresses the importance of being able to use symbolic speech to express opinions.

The signs show two images, one of a burning American flag and the other of a burning cross. According to Isaac Shutt, YCT's ambassador to the university, although this type of speech is unpopular and widely offensive, it is Constitutionally protected and incredibly important.

Andy Hemming, a first-year business and philosophy double major and diversity chair for YCT, supports First Amendment freedoms completely. "Although I may not agree with everything people have to say, you can't limit their freedom of speech my freedom of speech might someday be taken," he said.

According to Julsonnet, the fliers and signs are designed to draw students to YCT's booth at the student center.

Anyone offended by the signs is encouraged to stop by the booth for in-depth information and examples regarding free speech and its limitations at other universities.

Brainwashing 101, a DVD about liberal bias in higher education, will play on a laptop during the display.

"We want to address the limitation of free speech on campus and to encourage students to have their voices heard," Julsonnet said, "and in this case we are leaning more toward the conservative voice."

Coincidentally, today marks the one-year anniversary of YCT's affirmative action bake sale.

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YCT stresses importance of free speech