Is Free Expression Controversial?
UGA, like most colleges, wants students to seek knowledge, debate ideas, and form opinions some may be controversial. Because of the UGA “Freedom of Expression” policy, it is not uncommon to see protestors, activists, and religious groups around campus attempting to persuade and educate students on their cause. While it can be somewhat annoying, they normally refrain from any direct insults or attacks on a specific person or group of persons. The Liberal Arts component of UGA, conflicting with the location inside of the conservatively minded Bible Belt, makes for some interesting debates and conflicts amongst people on campus and typically clashing viewpoints arise.
The “Freedom of Expression” Policy allows the facilitation of rights outlined by the First Amendment while also ensuring the safety of students, faculty, staff, property, and learning. It outlines when and where it is acceptable for public speech to be exercised as to not disrupt the learning abilities, transportation, and security of students across campus while allowing the act of free speech.
UGA promotes free speech by every person: an employee, a student, invited, and uninvited speakers. As long as these visitors do not materially disrupt any property, scheduled activity, or reserved activity on campus nor are they allowed to ruin another person’s expressive rights. The fact that this act prohibits visitors from materially disrupting other activities adds a bit of protection for UGA students and faculty.
Because the University is a public campus, there are spaces that are designated “public forums”, where anybody can enter and speak regardless of whether or not they are actually affiliated with the school. The school has an obligation to honor these speakers’ first amendment rights, and therefore must allow them to peacefully demonstrate in these public areas. However, they are bound by the same rules that students are to ensure peace, respect, and maturity while informing others of their ideals.
Any speaker, protestor, or advocate whether they are a student, a faculty member, a staff member, or a visitor are prohibited from directly targeting a specific passerby, and if this occurs, they are subject to removal from campus, arrest, or other University punishment such as probation or expulsion.
In response to some controversial protesting in November of 2019, the University of Georgia Student Government chose to pass Resolution 32-07 which “encourages the University to publish a source of information that discloses which internal or external organizations will be tabling, advertising, or advocating on campus.” This legislation aims to help student awareness of such protests before it happens so that they can determine their actions, participation, or avoidance of the area accordingly.
UGA, like most colleges, wants students to seek knowledge, debate ideas, and form opinions; which naturally coincides with the freedom to express one’s views. It is the right of the speaker to speak as long as it does not interfere with the enjoyment and rights of others on campus. For the most part, this hasn’t been an issue, in my opinion. UGA is a peaceful, yet lively campus where anyone and everyone is allowed to speak up and speak out on what they believe.
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