Critics of speech codes contend that public universities cannot restrict speech as it violates the First Amendment, which protects hate speech with a few narrowly defined exceptions. Accordingly, public universities must be careful in writing and enforcing their speech codes as failed attempts have worked against both the university and the marginalized students such restrictions aim to protect. For example, a broad speech code may be subject to judicial invalidation or litigation as was the case for the University of Michigan. Universities can also be vulnerable to litigation if they take actions such as uninviting speakers to their campus on the basis of their viewpoint.
Ulyssa Hester
There is a small percentage of universities that choose to adopt free speech policies that do not restrict hate speech. In 2015, 35 universities adopted the Chicago Statement on Principles, also known as the Chicago Principles, for their free speech policies. The Chicago Principles support a commitment to free speech and a “culture of inquiry and informed argument” where the members of the University community are responsible for making up their own minds about the nature of the ideas put forth. Of course, there are limitations to using the Chicago Principles as a free speech policy. While free speech policies are considered neutral and fair by the universities that employ them, a neutral approach to free speech within the social context of the United States ignores power, privilege and the presence of White supremacy in our social institutions, including institutions of higher education. Campus free speech policies in practice leave marginalized students vulnerable to hate speech. Students, therefore, cannot depend on their universities to provide protection from incidences like the demonstration at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, targeted flyers that promote harmful ideas and speakers who spread hateful ideologies. Thus, “neutral” free speech policies are insufficient if universities intend to provide a safe environment for all of their students since “neutral” free speech policies allow hate speech that is harmful for some of their students.
The ACLU states that “the First Amendment does not protect behavior on campus that crosses the line into targeted harassment or threats, or that creates a pervasively hostile environment for vulnerable students.” However, it is important to critically consider who gets to define what is “crossing the line” or what is “a pervasively hostile environment”. I believe people with privileged identities who benefit from the oppression of marginalized people should not be allowed to determine what is crossing the line into threatening or hostile territory. The identities of those who define these terms are not addressed in the ACLU’s statement. People with privileged identities includes those who hold power within the U.S. over marginalized people (i.e., White, cis-gendered, abled, heterosexual and/or male persons). It stands as unethical for privileged people to determine how much trauma marginalized people should endure before intervening, especially while the privileged people maintain their power. Instead, the voices of marginalized groups should be centered when universities make policies concerning what is considered “crossing the line” or a “pervasively hostile environment” for marginalized people.
For instance, racially marginalized people may find that demonstrations held by White nationalists create a pervasively hostile environment. A majority White team of university administrators may come to a different conclusion and decide that this is allowed on their campus under their free speech policies. However, those who share this privileged identity maintain power in our society and benefit from the racial marginalization of those targeted by hate speech in such demonstrations. White people also will not experience the trauma that racially marginalized people may experience during and after such a demonstration. Thus, a majority White administrative team should not be the ones to determine whether or not such a demonstration creates a pervasively hostile environment for their racially marginalized community members
In further critique of the Chicago Principles approach, enforcement of the free speech policies in line with this statement can run counter to a university’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals. By allowing hateful speakers and demonstrations to occur on college campuses, universities allow the continuation marginalization of oppressed groups. Such exclusionary experiences, and at times the university’s responses to them, give students with marginalized identities the impression that their campuses are unwelcoming and toxic. Thus, universities must counter harmful narratives that detract from their stated institutional values. More importantly, university administrators must consistently work to create an equitable and inclusive campus culture.
