As a prior Airman, and one who has lost friends to military conflict, I was distraught and completely beside myself when my school was planning on having Ms. Phelps, whose group protests at fallen soldiers funerals, to be part of a panel discussion on Freedom of Speech. I wanted the school to disinvite her, or cancel the panel altogether. But, as much as I was upset about her being there, the college bent over backwards to make sure that every group was fully represented, and part of the discussion. As great as it is for the school to be allowing all views to be heard, it is a rarity in the education system in the United States.
For example, at the undergraduate university I attended, the professors were unwilling to hear any other viewpoint but their own. In several of the American History and Political Science classes, a student’s viewpoint would be either shut down quickly, or flat out ignored, if it was different from the professor’s in any way. For a country that prides itself on our freedom to speak freely, this is a serious problem.
In my opinion, one solution to “campus censorship,” would be to convince schools across the country that open dialogue, with all viewpoints getting equal time, is the way to go. If a student can hear other opinions, they will be better prepared to keep an open mind in the future. This is by no means an easy task. Most professors would probably see this as chaotic, but if structured correctly this can work and it would make the classes all that more enjoyable. For example, my father had a professor that was very liberal, yet this professor would either tell the student verbally, or write it on their papers, “I know what I believe, I want to know what you believe. Make your decision, back it up with facts, and you will get full credit.” This professor understood the value of allowing other viewpoints to be heard, and she was the most popular professor at the school. Doing this allows a student to develop his or her own beliefs, and helps them keep an open mind. To this day my father credits this professor with helping him be more open to differing views.
Schools must keep the peace on campus, because unrest will deter from a student’s ability to learn. However, allowing other viewpoints to be heard, whether the university agrees with them or not, will not necessarily lead to unrest. Sometimes it is not easy listening to opposing views. But restricting viewpoints will only lead to the First Amendment right of free speech, becoming a fallacy. The restricting of speech is a threat to our freedoms, and liberties that I am not prepared to accept. Are you?
