Free Speech at Texas State University

Free speech at Texas State University

By Alex Wade

SAN MARCOS, Texas – A series of new free speech laws recently enacted both in Texas, as well as nationwide, have been affecting college campuses and have divided students at Texas State.

Governor of Texas Gregg Abbott signed a new bill recently, SB 18, which requires universities to allow anyone to engage in free speech activities on college campuses. The law will enable universities to put restrictions on time, place and manner of free speech activities. Universities such as Texas State have had issues with free speech in the past.

In April, the student government at Texas State University passed a controversial resolution to bar the conservative group Turning Point USA from campus. The group was accused of promoting white supremacy and harassing Texas State students.

Kianna Rodriguez
Photo by Makenzie Harrison

"I don't think they should be banned because they have the right to their own opinions and their own speech, until they get mean, you know," Texas State student Kianna Rodriguez said. "I mean, they should not be bashing people, so I think that they shouldn't be banned but I also think that they shouldn't be bashing people; so if they keep bashing people by white supremacy, or homophobia, religion issues, political issues, then yeah, you're going to have to be banned. But I don't see anything wrong with having them around if they cooperate with everyone. Just don't be mean to people, everyone's human."

According to The Knights Foundation, nearly 6 in 10 students believe that hate speech should be protected under the first amendment. Hate speech is defined as speech that attacks people based on their race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Taylor Warner
Photo by Alex Wade

Taylor Warner, a sophomore at Texas State, said that hate speech shouldn't be allowed on college campuses, as it tends to promote the destruction of inclusivity and diversity among students.

"I would definitely feel more at ease if hate groups weren't allowed on campus," Warner said.

Ryan Taylor
Photo by Alex Wade

Ryan Taylor, a junior at Texas State, said that although hate speech is protected under the first amendment, it doesn't make him feel unsafe on campus.

"To be honest, it's better for people to be vocal about their hate so you can know who and who not to surround yourself with," Taylor said. "Silent hate is worse than vocal hate."

Many students believe that bill SB 18 can be useful for free speech if it solely focuses on people expressing their ideas and beliefs peacefully. However, some students believe that there should be restrictions on not allowing people to express hate speech.

Amari Clarke
Photo by Ezra Pena

Some students, like Amari Clarke, said that there should be a line in place that can stop hate speech from happening.

"Everyone has opinions but if your opinions are aggressive then maybe you shouldn't express hate as openly as you think you should," Clarke said.

Janet Hutchison, a graduate student, said that free speech is acceptable when it's used for expressing ideas and discussing why people have individual opinions. Hutchison draws then line when people use their freedom of speech to degrade others and promote hate speech.

"The level that hate speech is at, it's very basic, it's very fundamentalist and I just don't think that drives thought or progress along in any way," Hutchison said.