Free Speech on College Campuses

September, 2019 a rock that is been set aside as a "free speech" rock as been scribbled with offensive words, and the Jewish community of the university is not having it.

The rock is an iconic piece of the campus, used to honor a boy who was bullied for his shirt supporting the University of Tennessee and is often drawn on by students and student groups. This time, the rock was painted with "Jews did 9-11 Google: Dancing Isrealis".The Jewish community of the school says this is not the first tine they have been targeted on this campus, stating, We are sick and tired of University of Tennessee constantly doing nothing to address this. This happens time and time again and all the university has said is ‘this is unacceptable.'”

The University Chancellor Donde Plowman wrote: ”…We condemn that hate aimed toward members of our Jewish community, and we understand that words are not enough.”

Now the school has security set up near the rock, but nothing seems to have become of it.

So now what? Can the school press charges on someone if they are caught spray painting anti Semitic messages? Can the Jewish Community at the University of Tennessee sue? Would it be a violation of free speech?

To my understanding, the University of Tenenesee is public. I am not sure that means much, but the rock is not threatening Jews, so it can not be looked at as a true threat from Subsequent Consequences.

It is not fighting words and is not incitement. Does it hurt the Jewish Community? Yes. Could it be viewed at slander? Probs not.

It sucks that someone wrote that, but unfortunately it looks like not much can really be done. I have read no updates on the story.

The question always stands around hate speech. What classifies as hate speech and what can really be done about it? Just because something is or is not true about a group, does that make it hateful?

https://www.newsweek.com/2016/06/03/college-campus-free-speech-thought-police-463536.html

This article was interesting about Lynch Memorial and how students demanded it be taken off because of racial overtones.

Is a person's name count as free speech?

I remember at University of Maryland I saw a guy holding a sign that said, "All of you will go to hell". Yeah, upsetting, but nothing can really be done. Hate speech is protected, but not fighting words, incitement or true threats.

College student,
Maddy

Comments

Bush and Degenres

Recently a photo has gone viral, a photo of former President George W. Bush and TV Host Ellen Degeneres enjoying a football game together. At first, people were very angry and upset that the two were together. They have very opposing views, how could they even stand to be in the same room? Ellen Degeneres and the former president have different political views, one being gay marriage. Ellen Degeneres is an openly gay women who is married, and Bush in 2004 supported the ban of gay marriage, but supports civic unions. Yet, Ellen claims that she is still friends with Bush, despite opposing views. I am sure that is not all that two disagree with. In a clip from the Ellen Show, Degeneres spoke about her friendship, stating, "just because I don't agree with someone on everything doesn't mean that I'm not going to be friends with them. When I say 'Be kind to one another,' I don't mean only the people that think the same way you do. I mean be kind to ...

#NotAgainSU - Syracuse Battles Hate Crime

Once again, hate crimes spread on a university campus. Syracuse University in New York experiences a slew of hate speech all over campus. Starting with an instance of the n-word and other prolific language against African Americans and Asian Americans, to a swastika drawn in the snow to a verbal attack from a fraternity to an African American female student. Students have been participating in sit ins on campus, demanding information from Syracuse officials and demanding a change on campus. Night after night students sit in halls demanding response, especially from Chancellor Kent, who seems to remain silent throughout the situation. Students grow increasingly frustrated with lack of response and feel unsafe on campus. The fraternity involved in the incident of November 16, Alpha Chi Rho, has been suspended indefinitely from campus. Yet, students with the #notagainsu want to see more done for other fraternities who have shown racial bias. Students have expressed conc...

I Googled Myself...

This week we were challenged to google ourselves and look at our online profiles from an outside view. So, I did just that. I googled first, Maddy McCracken. Apparently, I have my own IMBD account were I stared in the 2012 TV series, "The Creepypasta Episodes". Unfortunately or fortunately, I did not star in this TV show, but this is the first link that comes up. Though, it would be cool to be an actress, but alas, I am not. Another link that popped up was a Facebook link saying that I was on Facebook. I am indeed on the site, but I have a private account. Even though I have a private account, my photos I am tagged in still show up. They are mostly family photos, old dance recital photos, dog photos and first day of school pictures. There is nothing detrimental on there that super embarrasses me, or would deter me from a job. I do not have anything political on my Facebook, just that I attended an all girls Catholic school. I suppose that could rub someone the wrong way,...

Madeleine McCracken

Search This Blog