College is a place of learning, a place where knowledge is tested and bank accounts are strained. It is a place where many different people from all types of backgrounds come together for a common goal, higher education. Universities should ensure that campuses are a safe and stable environment for all students and facilities. Limiting hate speech on campus is necessary to prevent hatred and violence. There are many incidents where such hatred is on the rise due to the increased diversity of campuses and the spread of social media. For example, the fires set by students at UC Berkeley, online death threats to African American students on Penn's campus, and racial slurs and verbal assaults at the University of Missouri (Ben-Porath 14). While restricting speech on campus can censor ideas, speech restrictions should be implemented to prevent discrimination and hatred. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To learn, students are given the freedom to ask questions, investigate, and discuss various topics. It is also the university's right that all students are given a safe space to expand their knowledge. There are many good reasons to limit free speech on campus. It has been used to intimidate and harass others, especially online and is typically directed at ethnic groups. Hate speech has been used to incite people to commit violence. Tynes et al (2013) suggest that racism on the Internet manifests itself in microaggressions due to the intent to hurt and harm certain individuals or populations. Ethnic students regularly experience prejudice, racism, and hatred in online environments. Hate is on the rise in the United States and is present in our universities. Herbert describes an incident of hate speech at the University of Texas at Austin. A group of students printed and posted flyers expressing the anti-Muslim and anti-immigration context. The same group took to Twitter to recruit similar, like-minded students and created a hashtag, #MakeAmericaWhiteAgain. Herbert also explains the reaction of the students and teachers of the University, many were outraged, shocked but many were scared. The university soon created the “Policy of Hate and Bias.” The purpose of the policy was to prohibit discrimination and hatred on campus. Universities should limit free speech to prevent hatred and harm to others. The incident in Austin is just one of many examples of hate speech on campus. According to the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education, “48% of students believe the First Amendment should not protect hate speech” (FIRE par. 2). Universities should have a safe space to ensure that every student has an equal right to education. Limiting free speech is necessary to prevent bigotry and hatred. Universities should regulate free speech on campus not to impede democracy but because some speech may harm others based on their identity. There are many examples of hate on campus. Hancock describes an incident in which the president of the undergraduate student government was harassed. She was the first American Indian to win that position at the University of Southern California. She was walking home with some friends when a frat boy yelled racial slurs and threw his drink at her (Hancock 1). Hancock then elaborates on how similar incidents are not.
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