“I personally am tired of hearing that First Amendment rights protect students when..."

[FrodosPet]

“I personally am tired of hearing that First Amendment rights protect students when they are creating a hostile and unsafe learning environment for myself and for other students here. I think that it’s important for us to create that distinction and create a space where we can all learn from one another and start to create a place of healing rather than a place where we are experiencing a lot of hate like we have in the past.”

[COLGATE4]

1. She would mightily profit from some

'teachable moments' about the First Amendment.

[zeemike]

2. Well there you have it...the first amendment is dead.

One by one the bill of rights are being destroyed in the name of the greater good.

What kind of a world are we creating for the next generation?...more like Orwell every day.

[7962]

5. "We"? This is coming from these ridiculous students.

And its happening on several campuses across the country.
Whats even worse, how are these "helpless" kids going to react to the working world?

[zeemike]

6. Perhaps like they did during the culture revolution in China

During the 60s...where they took it from the schools to the country and caused havoc in the country.
They are displaying the same kind of thinking as the Red Gard did back then.

[jamzrockz]

16. Do you think the 1st amendment is dead

because your speech can the censored on this very website? Of course not. You understand that there are going to be areas in life where the moderators can silence your speech like here on DU.

Don't agree with her but some people are just overreacting

[zeemike]

17. DU is not a public space and so they have that right.

But how about if you censor speech on the internet? If DU can do it why not the internet in general?

It is odd that the free speech movement of the 60s has now flipped and now universities lead the way for censorship.

[jamzrockz]

18. Like I said

I do not agree with the woman but I am not going to declare 1st amendment to be dead just because someone called for censorship in a public college. Also changedotcom is essentially public domain but do you think I would be allowed to post pornographic material on there? probably not because said speech is going to be offensive to some people.

Hate this attitude turns fast but I don't think this is the beginning of anything.

[zeemike]

19. Well we hope not.

But it is hard to pinpoint when tyranny actually begins because it is never a sudden thing.
It firsts starts with someone taking an inch and then soon it is a mile.
That is why it is important to have principles and stand up for them.

[sulphurdunn]

3. The First Amendment

makes as good a sword as a shield. Take the blows on the shield, then strike back!

[geek tragedy]

4. If she's talking a legit hostile environment she's correct

If she's talking about having people disagree with her, thpfft.

[Delver Rootnose]

8. The first amendment....

...even protects profound assholes like the clan. Freedom is sometimes hard. A desire for a 'safe space' does not remove that right.

[geek tragedy]

11. it is more complicated than that in educational settings

and in the workplace where federal civil rights protections forbid hostile environments that exclude students based on sex, race and religion

[beevul]

7. Schools should have a special 1 day event...

Schools should have a special 1 day event called "A day without the first amendment", annually.

Just to show kids like this one (and profs like Melissa Click) that they should be very careful what they wish for.

[DAngelo136]

9. It would seem that

many of us on the left misunderstand the 1st Amendment and it's limits as much as those on the right do.
The 1st Amendment only means that the government can't arrest you for political speech. It DOES NOT protect you from; libel and slander suits, dismissal from your job or a punch in the face in the case of fighting words and personal insults.

In blunt terms: You can call me "nigger" if you wish and I will also wish to bash in your face in return. Now ask yourself: "Is that risk worth it?"
So, yes, there ARE limits to free speech; some legally imposed and others by common sense, courtesy and self preservation.

[Ed Suspicious]

12. I very much take your point, and mostly agree with it, but my right use offensive language at you

would seem to be protected, while your right to punch me in the face might land you with charges from the state.

[svpadgham]

13. Yeah, but you still got punched in the face.

nt

[tecelote]

10. Muzzling speech will have the opposite effect from what they're hoping for.

Free speech let's people express/expose themselves for who they are.

[Jim Lane]

14. If she's tired of hearing about the First Amendment let her transfer out of a state university.

Here's a teachable moment for you, Brenda: Government entities (like the University of Missouri) are bound by the First Amendment. Private entities (like Yale) are not. Her comment was in response to a question that arose from a Yale policy about offensive Halloween costumes. Yale and other private universities have much more leeway in restricting what people say or do. Some fundies have established Pensacola Christian College, and they're not bound by the First Amendment, which leaves them free to repress all speech with which they disagree (including even schools of thought within Christianity that displease them).