Essay About Jeff Chu Questions And College Campuses

Fighting Words 101
Essay Preview: Fighting Words 101
Report this essay
In the article “Fighting Words 101”, Jeff Chu questions wither legislators are the
right people to step into action legislating against academic freedom of speech within
college campuses. Chu explains the idea of bills created by professor Bob Hagedorn and
David Horowitz which are to protect both student and teachers right to express personal
views by freedom of speech. Chu then adds how legislators to step into action by using
people such as Ward Churchill, after a controversial speech, as an example of showing
how universities are going too far and losing
touch with the community. Further more
Chu explains how controversial speeches coming from professors and students is an
exercise of freedom of speech, therefore concludes that it should be up to the universities,
rather than the legislators to step in place to decide wither controversial speeches and
discussions are appropriate for their college campus.
I disagree with the idea that legislators should step into action deciding what
students and teachers can say within their college campus. I think its their given right to
exercise their freedom of speech to an extent that is appropriate for others to hear. I think
it is the colleges responsibility to decide what is appropriate and what is not, because
college is a school for adults who are capable of choosing what to hear and not to hear as
an individual. I strongly believe that student and teachers academic freedom should be
protected because removing opposing opinions and criticism teaches nothing to the
students. The idea of having the fear to speak out an individuals opinion causes the
college community become a more biased society towards one side. If legislative took
position to control what is appropriate on college campus, then it takes the tradition of
what college life is all about, which is a students ability to choose their paths and learn
while perusing them.
Two years ago I had a temporary long term substitute who was fired from his
previous job as a teacher at another school for criticizing president George Bush to his
students during a debated topic. During class we would have political debates relating to
the war in Iraq and the president. The class would be split up in two teams taking turns on
each