SHUT UP!? FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION VERSUS FREEDOM NOT TO LISTEN

Exposure to new ideas and the free exchange of opinions promotes creativity and is the foundation of critical thinking. The First Amendment is the guardian of freedom of expression. A timely educational and legal issue with... [ view full abstract ]

Exposure to new ideas and the free exchange of opinions promotes creativity and is the foundation of critical thinking. The First Amendment is the guardian of freedom of expression. A timely educational and legal issue with significant personal and professional implications is the scope of free speech at public universities. Efforts by public universities to limit freedom of expression through free speech codes, free speech zones and other restrictions are discussed. Case law and state statutes relating to First Amendment restrictions are reviewed. In the spring of 2017, the author conducted the Free Speech Survey of 89 undergraduate students and the results of the survey are analyzed. The boundaries of freedom of expression at public universities are discussed and suggestions are made for the free exchange of ideas.