no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Jeff Sessions and the DOJ Make a Stand for Free Speech

The Department of Justice recently filed a motion to support a group of college students who are suing the University of Michigan for violating their freedom of speech.

It is the fourth time that the DOJ, under the guidance of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has filed a motion in support of those who are sanctioned, penalized or harassed by educational universities catering to students who don’t want their belief systems questioned or opposed. Even so, this case could have a major impact on colleges and universities throughout the country due to the fact that it challenges the right of educational institutions to create “bias response teams.” These teams can be found in more than one hundred educational institutions throughout the country and play a major role in regulating free speech on campus.

Given the fact that most educational institutions are liberal in nature, it is usually conservative guest speakers and students who wind up being penalized by university policies limiting free speech. However, it isn’t just conservative activists who are starting to realize that restricting certain forms of speech on campus or anywhere else is not a good idea.

As liberal writer Matt Bai accurately points out, the ability to hear and process various points of view is a must for those who want a good education. College students who are continually coddled and protected from offensive speech, ‘microaggressions’ and other perceived evils will not be prepared to face the real world where not everyone holds to a liberal point of view. Even more importantly, free speech is a fundamental, constitutional right that cannot be infringed on simply because some people happen to dislike or even h**e certain forms of speech. Setting a precedent that disallows certain forms of speech in public venues is downright dangerous.

Under current university guidelines, a student could be disciplined for wearing a MAGA hat, a T-shirt, or voicing a pro-life opinion. At the same time, a conservative student could complain about another student who voices a liberal opinion on topics such as a******n, homosexuality or immigration — which usually results in the conservative student being reprimanded. What is more, any student who is upset at another student for wh**ever reason could make a false accusation or two accusing this student of harassment or bias, resulting in an innocent person being disciplined or even expelled.

Another big problem with many university regulations is that they are incredibly vague, making it easy for just about anyone to be accused of harassment, bullying or having a bias against another person or group of people. The University of Michigan, for instance, actually stated in its anti-bullying policy that “the most important indication of bias is your own feelings.” Furthermore, it issued speech regulations that banned harassment and bullying without defining what those terms meant, and then put in place bias response teams that seemed to have the power to discipline students.

Thankfully, UM has made some changes to its policies in the wake of the recent case by removing the ridiculous sentence about feelings being an important indicator of bias, and clarifying that the bias response team doesn’t have the power to discipline students. However, it is a shame that it took DOJ involvement in the case for faculty members to allow students common-sense freedoms that are their right under the constitution.

Free speech is clearly under attack in universities all across America. Thankfully, the Department of Justice is taking the side of free speech activists, and holding educational institutions accountable for restricting students’ rights to speak about certain issues on campus.

While there are some who feel that the DOJ is being motivated by a desire to promote conservative activism, the t***h is that free speech is a right that benefits everyone. Liberals and conservatives alike win when everyone is allowed to share their opinions freely, without fear of being accused, harassed or disciplined. This is perhaps one of the most important lessons that young people need to learn today if the United States is to continue to be a free nation in the future.

~ Liberty Planet

JoyV

Thanks for sharing this. It hits the nail on the head!

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

You are quite welcome. Yes it does doesn't it?

Weasel Loc: In the Great State Of Indiana!!

This clearly goes back to that famous and unforgettable quote by the worst President we have EVER had ("I will Fundamentally change the Culture of America")
Liberals that used to be part of the conversation for Common Sence and Logic, :sm24,: suddenly developed [tunnel vision] and became mindless robots for the cause of Tearing this country apart during the Obama Administration!
Institutions of higher learning secretly began brainwashing the very customers, who were paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for an education that they thought would pave the way for a better world in which to live.

steve metter

So thats where jeff (papa Smurf) sessions is spending his time. Not prosecuting 58 conspiracy minded legislators trying to get hilliary elected.

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

no prop, I agree that college administrators are not doing their job very well, but in a different way. I had terrible professors in college as well as great ones. I had a college teacher in Queens College that became a convert to the Catholic church. He was formerly Jewish. He spent the entire course trying to convert the Jewish students of his world civilization class. This was a gross abuse of academic freedom. No world history was taught. I've had professors that challenged my beliefs and values, and I became a better, more educated person due to their efforts.
College administrators fall short in cases involving protest meetings and law enforcement on campus. I know of several people that were injured in " Palestinian teach ins " on campus. Don't get me wrong, people have a right to protest, but not commit acts of violence on other students and even people just passing by. For years, reported rape cases were not referred to police, and a very light slap on the hand was the only consequences for sexual assault. I don't remember anything in the US Constitution about thugs in college getting a free pass for criminal actions on campus. Do you?

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

They need to include those institutions that penalize liberals and so on, and you know they exist because I've pointed them out on several occasions.

This is another example of the extreme hypocrisy displayed by both ends of the political spectrum. Freedom of speech includes the stuff that YOU don't want to hear.