Can you really "Be you at BU"?
Hannah McNally
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Opinion
By Hannah McNally
"Be you at BU?" Bellarmine states that "it does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin," however, it does not allow the freedom of expression within these accepted categories.
Can one really be himself at Bellarmine University if there is no area in which he can express his differences from the norm of the student body without being punished or embarrassed? Bellarmine should allow a free speech zone on campus where human rights do not have to be given, but are constantly flowing without hesitation or fear.
While public universities have an obligation to uphold the First Amendment rights of students, private universities, like Bellarmine, are not bound by the First Amendment.
There is a catch. If a private university has a selling point of being welcoming to free speech and expression, it can be held to the same codes as public universities who are governed by the First Amendment. Because Bellarmine states that it is accepting of all walks of life and wants students to have a voice, legally, it has to uphold these promises.
Bellarmine does not do so. Bellarmine implements censorship on the free speech of students, making it mandatory to have all posters, fliers, and advertisements approved before being hung. Speakers have to be sponsored by an organization and approved by the university before speaking. This is not freedom of expression and speech. It is heavily supervised student voice stifling.
A progressive step for Bellarmine would be to implement a free speech zone on campus. A free speech zone is an area on campus that students are able to practice complete free speech and expression without being governed by the university. Controversial speeches and protests could be held peacefully within the free speech zone. Fliers and posters for any activity could be hung without hesitation. True acceptance of all types of people could be promised by the university because of a free speech zone.
"Be you at BU?" Bellarmine states that "it does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin," however, it does not allow the freedom of expression within these accepted categories.
Can one really be himself at Bellarmine University if there is no area in which he can express his differences from the norm of the student body without being punished or embarrassed? Bellarmine should allow a free speech zone on campus where human rights do not have to be given, but are constantly flowing without hesitation or fear.
While public universities have an obligation to uphold the First Amendment rights of students, private universities, like Bellarmine, are not bound by the First Amendment.
There is a catch. If a private university has a selling point of being welcoming to free speech and expression, it can be held to the same codes as public universities who are governed by the First Amendment. Because Bellarmine states that it is accepting of all walks of life and wants students to have a voice, legally, it has to uphold these promises.
Bellarmine does not do so. Bellarmine implements censorship on the free speech of students, making it mandatory to have all posters, fliers, and advertisements approved before being hung. Speakers have to be sponsored by an organization and approved by the university before speaking. This is not freedom of expression and speech. It is heavily supervised student voice stifling.
A progressive step for Bellarmine would be to implement a free speech zone on campus. A free speech zone is an area on campus that students are able to practice complete free speech and expression without being governed by the university. Controversial speeches and protests could be held peacefully within the free speech zone. Fliers and posters for any activity could be hung without hesitation. True acceptance of all types of people could be promised by the university because of a free speech zone.
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