Speech Codes

Over the past decades, universities across the country have worked to create a comfortable campus atmosphere. It is important that  this is a place where everyone who wants to speak, learn, engage and interact can do these things without impediment.  To this end, campuses have implemented a number of well-intentioned policies to stop discrimination and harassment, and to encourage an environment where students from all backgrounds are truly welcomed.  Unfortunately, in their effort to protect all students, some universities have adopted restrictive language that cuts down on the free exchange of ideas. 

While we should obviously work to make sure that campuses are learning environments accessible for all students, restrictions on speech do interfere with a student's ability to learn.  These policies, often referred to as “Speech Codes”, harm the learning environment by restricting the dialogue between students and faculty.  Rather than having an open dialogue on campus, there’s an atmosphere of censorship and sensitivity - students and faculty often walk on eggshells to make sure they don’t offend.

This is particularly problematic on a university campus where students should be encouraged to learn through debate, investigation and through exposure to a wide variety of opinions and ideas.  Rather than restricting offensive speech, universities should be encouraging students to learn through open debate and study.  Moreover, when prejudice and hate are out in the open on campus, students get an opportunity to expose, discuss, and dissect offensive language in a way that encourages communication rather than stifling it.    

The Center works with members of the campus community to remove restrictions on free speech so that campus can be an environment where students are able to have the unrestricted dialogue necessary for a college education and an inclusive community. We provide background information and work with members of the campus community to speak out against restrictive speech codes.