Hate speech is an individual's expression towards something that the person opposes. Hate speech can also be used as a tool for protest. A speech code is a set of rules protecting people from harassment or discrimination. Speech codes have been written on some college campuses to protect minorities and to induce order in an academic environment. Although a speech code protects people, it is a violation to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution that grants the freedom of speech, and therefore must not be written. Since the main principle of the First Amendment applies directly to public institutions, it has been hard for many universities to pass speech codes and still remain constitutional. .
Doug Hann, a football player at Brown University, was expelled for violating the university's code of conduct. Hann had a previous incident where he had been drinking and racially insulted another student, and two years later, he found himself on the verge of being expelled. This time, Hann had been drinking again and was in the university courtyard where he insulted and verbally harassed others. In an article entitled "Should This Student Have Been Expelled?- author Nat Hentoff discusses the reasoning for his expulsion and also explores the controversy between free speech and hate speech. I feel that this student should not have been expelled because the most speech codes are too general. Doug Hann may not know what is acceptable and his personal views may clash with others, but who is to say that Hann is wrong? .
"Offense III [of the Brown code] "which deals with harassment "prohibits inappropriate, abusive, threatening, or demeaning actions based on race, religion, gender, .
handicap, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation- (Hentoff 341). Without proper explanation, an individual's own values and beliefs may differ and he or she may not know the exact definition of inappropriate', threatening', or demeaning'.
Should Hate Speech Be Censored? ... I am speaking about Hate Speech. ... What can be considered what is Hate Speech and what isn't is a very relative thing. ... So who is to determine what is Hate Speech? ... Censoring "Hate Speech" can lead to limits on the First Amendment. ...
Hate speech as we know it has been around just about as long as anyone could ever possibly remember. ... Many believe that this "hate speech- should be regulated under the law. ... - Everyone defines hate speech differently. I define hate speech as anything that incites violence regarding one person or a group of people. ... Therefore I did not view this act as hate speech hate speech. ...
Boundaries of the First Amendment are at the center of the legal debates about free speech and hate speech. ... Hate speech cuts into the equality of access for minority groups. ... Matsuda also writes "When hate speech invades a campus, students have no choice, no place to go to escape the speech" (p.154). ... And if we do regulate speech on campus, will hate speech stop? ... Shiell, T. (1998) Campus hate speech on trial. ...
Hate Speech Code vs. ... That is why I believe that a hate speech code would be a good idea at SMU. So why should a hate speech code be enforced? ... If we live in a country where equality for all mankind and womankind exists, then why should using this hate speech code be an issue? Advocating and allow hate speech goes against the fact that all men are created equal. ...
Hate speech on campuses should be acceptable as long as students can exercise their right to participate fully in campus life without being discriminated against. Hate speech as a freedom of speech and peaceful assembly is in fact protected by the First Amendment. ... Many universities have enforced hate speech codes that allow the freedom of speech but protect the student's rights to participate fully in campus life without being discriminated against. ... Another thing we cannot overlook is that creating and abiding speech codes that would not allow hate speech would not be treatin...
But given the lack of racial and social diversity among students, faculty and administrators on most campuses; many universities, under pressure to respond to the concerns of those who are the objects of hate have adopted codes or policies prohibiting speech that offends any group based on race gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. ... Speech that deeply offends our morality or is hostile to our way of life promises the same constitutional protection as other speech because the right of free speech is indivisible. ... Where racist, sexist and homophobic speech is concerned, "More ...
Hate speech is a very delicate and intricate subject. ... The soul intention of this amendment was written so that any given speech is seen as the freedom of speech and expression rather than hate speech. ... In perspective, hate speech as it is viewed by some is free speech to others. ... Hate speech is a form of expression despite the outlook. The intentions of hate speech stem from personal opinion. ...
Free Speech: A Cover for Violence and Hate When we think of what makes America unique, we think of our freedom of speech. ... But the girl was only voicing her opinion of my friend; isn't that just free speech? What exactly is covered by free speech? It is the opinion of a large number of Americans that there should be absolutely no limitations whatsoever to free speech. ... Yes, we have freedom of speech and of the press, but when those rights overstep the rights of another, that's where our rights end. ...
Many people believe that these laws violate the criminal's freedom of speech. Many hate group members say that freedom of speech is the right to say or write or publish one's thoughts, or to express one's self, they also say that this right is guaranteed to all Americans. ... The Supreme Court Justices have decided that some kinds of speech are not protected by the Constitution, but the question still remains: "Does freedom of speech mean freedom to hate?" ... When this hate fuels a person into taking violent actions upon those that he hate, it is called a hate crime, an issue w...
