Civil Rights - College

Brooks Farish

In 1960 the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) was founded and in 1964 The 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. But, in today's world, we still face many issues with civil rights. One of which being colleges and students rights. Most of the issues nowadays revolve around freedom of speech found on college campuses. The suppression of speech begins when administrators develop speech codes/parameters that restrict what students are allowed to say. Not in all instances do these codes restrict the students but also things such as outspoken university faculty, technologically mediated discussions, speakers expressing controversial views, the use of student fees to support gay, lesbian and other organizations. These factors contribute to and encourage speech suppression and little opinion diversity. To even further add on to this issue colleges have created safe spaces and trigger warnings. Originally these ideas for such places were put in place to address hate speech but now has created a place to reject diverse opinions and kill freedom of speech. What I really hope to see is colleges address this issue and find a nice median in which students can still get exposure to new and alternative opinions and ideas.


Sources:

Hudson, David L. “Free Speech on Public College Campuses Overview.” Freedom Forum
Institute, www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/topics/freedom-of-speech-2/free-speech-on-public-college-campuses-overview/.
Park, Hannah. “The Influence of Colleges on the Civil Rights Movement.” Senator Sam Ervin
and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, ervin062.web.unc.edu/reactions-to-civil-rights/influence-colleges-civil-rights-movement/.


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