Texas State University speaks up about freedom of speech

Texas State University community speaks up about freedom of speech

By: Samuel Bates

San Marcos, Texas— A series of bills passed to act on the recent infringements to freedom of speech on university campuses. Texas State communities have an agreeable response to the bill.

SB 18 was passed on June 10, which will require state universities to better enforce policies that uphold freedom of speech. Gov. Abbott pointed out Texas State University for not upholding the freedom of speech that the bill targets

The student government at Texas State barred Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit organization, from speaking on Texas State University.

Wimberley Kerbow, a 20-year-old student at Texas State, said that the ban was harsh and not the proper steps to be taken. The group was having their freedom of speech suppressed with the ban, and that's a step too far.

Wimberley Kerbow Photo by Makenzie Harrison

“I don’t think they should be banned because they have freedom of speech,” Kerbow Said. “I think banning is too harsh if they aren’t given a chance to make changes.”

This is not the only incident Texas State has had occur obscuring the freedom of speech on campus in the last few years. The Foundation of Individual Rights in Education labeled Texas State as one of the top 10 worst schools for free speech in 2018. 

 Donald Stevenson

Photo by: Aaron Esparza

Donald Stevenson, a 21-year-old Texas State student, disagreed with this placement as one of the worst schools for free speech. 

“I do strongly believe that Texas State is well equipped with accomplishing the aspect of each individual student having the right of free speech,” Donald Stevenson said. “It is important to Texas State that each student is heard and their voice is not looked down upon.”

That year the STAR, an independent news publication on Texas State campus, published an opinionated piece titled “Your DNA is an abomination” that caused outrage and had leadership positions on campus calling for the resignation of the editors.

Everett Hughes, a 24-year-old senior at Texas State, said that you can’t take away freedom of speech without hindering someone's ability to learn.

Everett Hughes
Photo by: Samuel Bates

“For your education to be worthwhile you must be able to have an opinion on things,” Hughes said. “Even if that differs from what the school thinks or your professor thinks.”

President Donald Trump has made it a priority to ensure that freedom of speech on universities is upheld. President Trump signed an executive order that will prevent universities from prohibiting groups to speak on campus.

Courtney Velasquez Photo By: Taylor Batey

This executive action taken by the Trump was supported by many, including Courtney Velasquez, a 22-year-old student at Texas State.

“People need to be informed or reminded that free speech is supposed to be enforced everywhere in the U.S, especially on a public campus,” Velasquez said.

Eric Friegborg
Photo by: Samuel Bates

Eric Friegborg, a 52-year-old alumnus from Texas State, said that it is ridiculous that discussions like this have to happen. Before social media and everyone having your history under a microscope freedom of speech was never even a question.

“You said your point of view and why you had it,” Friegborg said. “No need to be politically correct or watch your words. It is bulls--t that it has changed from that.”