Free speech area on campus open for student expression and opinion

Freedom of speech is known as the language of democracy and many consider it to be a fundamental building block to a free society. However, just as many people would caution that not enough Americans utilize their full rights as outlined in the First Amendment.

Oct. 17-23 is Free Speech Week across the United States and the National Communication Association, a major sponsor of Free Speech Week, emphasizes on its website the “need to cultivate in our communities the importance of being well-informed, articulate citizens.”

MHCC has a space designated to free speech located in the Main Mall, roughly from cosmetology to under the library. This space protects the free speech and expression of students as long as it doesn’t advocate illegal acts or violence.

“All colleges established free speech areas as a way to handle events and activities ensuring that they meet time, place and manner standards,” said Dean of Student Success Robert Cox.

Some on campus believe that students are taking full advantage of the free speech area.

“Many times a year I see student clubs hosting a table in the free speech area. Additionally, all ASG candidates campaign in the free speech area during the student election process,” said Cox.

“Last year during faculty negotiations, a student-hosted a rally was held in the free speech area,” he added.
Political Science instructor Janet Campbell feels differently about the student usage of the free speech area:

“No, they don’t really utilize it a lot. There are not a lot of organized events, though they would have to go through David [Sussman],” she said.
Campbell said she feels students utilize their free speech in other ways, though.

“I think, in general, there are a lot of discussions and forums that go happen on campus,” said Campbell. She added that there have been a number of groups that have come to the campus to hold debates. Among these groups were debates about evolution vs. intelligent design and gay rights. Campbell also facilitates political forums on campus that feature members of the forensics team, students and faculty members.

The most recent forum on Wednesday featured the topic “Should the government regulate extremist websites?” and discussed lines if government starts regulating, where does the line end and does censorship stop the problem or merely repress it for it to come back with a vengeance.

Forensics members Ryan Rhoades and Rob Sepich were the ones debating in Wednesday’s forum and chose to express their freedom of speech through the aforementioned forums as well as discussions in class, though that method is one that requires more care.

“You have to take into account human empathy in discussions. In the forensics room, we’re all fine with saying whatever we want to each other, but in classrooms, I’ll express myself differently,” said Rhoades.

Sepich added, “I know where I stand. I want to know where other people stand and create discussion with them, but constructively. Building up points, not bringing them down.”

Part of free speech comes in what can be said in classrooms, an arena known to be a gray zone for free speech. Teachers across the country have limits on what can be said in classrooms. For example, at MHCC, instructors are not allowed to advocate for positions, use public resources to promote personal agendas and are supposed to be germane in class time.

“For example, a math instructor can’t talk about how bad Occupy Portland is,” said Campbell on the topic of germane class time.

“The college is committed to protecting free speech. It’s a priority to protect it not just as a fundamental building block from the Constitution, but also as its role on college campuses,” said David Sussman, manager of College Center Services and Grant Sponsored Programs

“A challenge of ours is making sure the community has access to free speech, but also balancing the fact that we’re a teaching and learning institution,” Sussman said. “So our instructional purpose doesn’t face disruption, finding the right venues is important, especially making sure it’s accessible and still creates a harmonious campus environment.”