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Why We Should Have Free Speech On Campus

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College campuses have always been the sites where students can express their opinions without fear. There have been many debates about the merits of allowing free speech on campus. Some students and faculties support allowing free speech on campus, while others believe that colleges should restrict free speech to make the college’s environment safer for every student. Restricting the freedom of expression is a bad idea because freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights in the Constitution, free speech also prepares college students for society, and free speech also improves college students’ mental health. Freedom of speech is one of the crucial rights of American citizens. The Constitution states that American citizens are guaranteed …show more content…
Free speech allows students to hear the opposing argument and to make a rebuttal to that argument. Free speech also allows graduation speakers to impart their wisdom and experience to the college students. In their article “Intolerance Does Not Belong on Campus,” the staffs at the Jacksonville Daily News believe that universities should “exposed” students to different viewpoints, rather than “shielding” them from the viewpoints. They also mention that “exposing” student to different viewpoints enables the students to “examine” and “defend” their own belief (85). The idea that students use the opposing view to strengthen their ability to make a counter-argument demonstrates that free speech can help students to function in society after their graduation. The same article also criticizes students and faculties for preventing prominent celebrities from speaking at their graduation ceremony because of the celebrities’ political ideology. The idea graduation speakers are barred from speaking because of their political view demonstrates that college students and professors are sensitive and closed-minded. It also reveals that putting a restriction on the freedom of speech can prevent different ideas and knowledge from spreading and enlightening a person’s

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