Free Speech

Community Problem Report: Free Speech on Campus

The University of Texas at El Paso
RWS 1301
David J Banuelos

Free Speech

Abstract
Freedom of speech is under attack across campuses in all western nations. The public is
starting to realize that college campuses, once breeding grounds for free thought and discourse
has become a breeding ground for fear mongering, hate, and silencing opposing viewpoints. Here
at UTEP, there was a small group of students who opposed a certain word, they call the Rword (Retard), and decided to try and ban the use of such word. Researching the history of free
speech on the UTEP campus revealed a strong history of pro-first amendment students. Most
students across the US seem to expect to find an echo chamber of ideas and opinions at their
universities, but UTEP seems to be an exception. Many students and educators here at UTEP do
not know the heavy hand of political correctness or trigger warnings. Students here seem to be
far more level headed and rational compared to their pupils from other more liberal institutions.
Maybe miners are smarter, but it also must have something to do with the heritage many bring to
the University, and how pro-thought we are as Miners.
Introduction
Currently at this moment, the University of Texas at El Paso is listed as having a single
Code Yellow, per the FIRE; a free speech watchdog site for College campuses. As a code Yellow,
our only grievance towards free speech on this database is in regards to sexual harassment and
misconduct, where any aspect of interaction between two people thats even misunderstood as
sexual harassment can lead to action by the school. Other than that, we are listed as a Code
Green for every other aspect. Ranging from free speech and freedom of assembly to public

Free Speech

discourse over religion and politics, there is nearly nothing off the table, if the content isnt
malicious and singling groups or individuals out.
Prior Challenges to Free Speech on UTEP
In 2003, one of the first instances of censorship by the school administration was in the
use of two free-speech zones, so public discourse for a student community of 17,000 could
only be done in these spots. Ruben Reyes wished to hold protests and environmental dangers, the
administration, and censorship. When the administration told him to only use those two areas, he
gathered hundreds in protest and won the right to protest and speak in nearly any place on
campus (Lisa 2003). Once hed succeeded, UTEP amended its policies and allows all forms of
discourse, regardless of whether the administration agrees. Senator Shapleigh would later follow
this up in regards how the administration and teachers were completely uncaring in regards to
what the students demanded. He would discuss how the anger and displeasure felt by the
students would be an aspect he would run his administration on (Shapleigh 2005).
Student Censorship Statistics
According to the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan polling and research organization,
they conducted a survey on free speech and media across the globe and discovered that 40% of
millennials would be okay with limiting free speech if it was offensive (Poushter 2015).
American millennials apparently far more likely and willing to give up rights and freedoms if it
can protect minority groups and organizations. Nearly every one of the individuals surveyed that
was a millennial attended a University. Compared to other millennials of other western nations,
American students were far less likely to give up rights compared to their European counterparts.
Overall however, two-thirds of all Americans did say that free speech shouldnt be impeded,
regardless of what offence it causes to others.

Free Speech

Newsweek also reports that 217 American colleges and Universities now have speech
codes and speech zones to protect all people from unwanted opinions and thoughts. The U.S
Department of Education has also now listed opposing ideas and opinions as verbal conduct
that can potentially violate the civil rights of minorities and women (Burleigh 2016). A Gallup
poll by The Atlantic also revealed at campuses across the U.S have 69% of their student
populations supporting disciplinary action against students or faculty who commit
microagressions, or any type of speech or action that may be potentially viewed as sexist,
racist, or homophobic. They are also pushing towards all classes to start using trigger warnings at
the start of each session of class to prevent harm to students (Cole 2016).

Free Speech

Conclusion and Recommendations

One can suppose as Miners, there is little care or regard for the overly politically correct
movement taking place. Maybe its due to the strong Mexican identity most students share, and
most of them have thick skin to deal and shrug off most offences. The threat to free speech seems
like a distant problem that UTEP will probably never experience, but it is a threat that is indeed
always looming. In the attempt to ban the R-word, its an early way to lose what political
freedom Miners have. While calling another person a Retard shouldnt be acceptable, it shouldnt
also carry with it consequences of administrative action. Free speech is the primary foundation of
all forms of discourse, regardless of feelings, thoughts and identity. If at any point the rights of
students were to be removed for the sake of a minority group or person, we all become victims of
oppression.
For the future, there are things we can do to prevent issues like this from occurring, such
as the administration for the school taking a hardline stance against any attempt to change their
Speech policy. Now, UTEP prides itself on having codes that protect and grant additional rights
not seen in most schools, such as the ability to speak and assemble nearly anywhere on UTEP.
Next, we should have every year or so a review with the students on their rights as students and
reaffirm their ability to protest and speak their minds. Lastly there should be a code against the
mandatory requirement of Trigger warnings and Safe Spaces. UTEP may be unique in
regards to the rights of its community, but we must always be vigilant for the future.

Free Speech

6
References

Cole, Jonathan R. 9 June 2016. The Chilling Effects of Fear at America's Colleges. The
Atlantic,
Atlantic Media Company, , http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/06/thechilling-effect-of-fear/486338/.

The Atlantic discusses how leaders across Academia are the primary reason for many
students who lack any capability, in dealing with life and the real world. Leaders are
poisoning students due to the overwhelming number of liberals who are teaching, and
forcing conservative educators to shut up or face expulsion. They also go into detail of
the cowardice of students in regards to learning opposing views.

Shapleigh, E. Fall 2005. Freedom of Speech at UTEP..

http://shapleigh.org/system/reporting_document/file/132/focus_documents132.pdf

Senator Shapleigh describes at length in his paper an incident that took place in 2005 at
UTEP. He describes how there was a lack of political activism from the administration in
regards to an ASARCO smelting plant in the area. Students protested, and the school
attempted to silence the students via speech codes and free speech zones.

Burleigh, N. 26 May, 2016. The Battle Against Hate Speech on College Campuses Gives Rise
to a Generation that Hates Speech. Newsweek, http://www.newsweek.com/2016/06/03/collegecampus-free-speech-thought-police-463536.html

Free Speech

The article explores the problem of coddling students minds to prevent unwanted
knowledge from entering, due to a possibility of causing trauma or harming students.
This is leading to a stagnation of knowledge and ideas that only assists in causing harm in
these individuals who will eventually leave academia, and deal with the real world.
Students are often shocked once they arrive into the work force and experience work
culture.

The Fire. 26 Oct 2016. https://www.thefire.org/schools/university-of-texas-at-el-paso/

The database is a collection of schools who make an attempt at closing off free speech,
and violating the rights of students. UTEP is placed in a yellow category, with some
policies that are questionable towards the individual rights of the students. Also keeps
track of all Universities with limits on students rigthts.

Poushter, Jacob. "40% of Millennials OK with Limiting Speech Offensive to Minorities." Pew
Research Center RSS. Pew Research, 20 Nov. 2015. http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2015/11/20/40-of-millennials-ok-with-limiting-speech-offensive-to-minorities/

Pew Research has discovered startling data that shows that many campuses across the US
and Europe and attempting to limit any thought or speech that is deemed harmful to

Free Speech

minorities. Pew went and polled millennials to discover how many of them felt that
limiting the first amendment was a good idea, and returned with a 40% agreement from
those polled.

Alpha Sigma Alpha. Ban the R-Word:Spread the Word to end the Word. Mine Tracker. UTEP.

3 October, 2016.
https://minetracker.utep.edu/organization/asa_thetaxi/calendar/details/1089295

A date that is set on the Mine Tracker to ban the R word on UTEP.

Free Speech. Student Engagement and Leadership Center. UTEP. Accessed 26 October, 2016.
http://sa.utep.edu/selc/free-speech/

A collection of information regarding free speech codes that are strictly enforced on
UTEP. Many of their polices are very friendly towards the first amendment. UTEP hold
many policies that some students in other areas would feel is problematic.

Falkenberg, Lisa. (2003). Colleges Blasted Over Free-Speech Zones. AP.

Time and again, Ruben Reyes asked the University of Texas at El Paso for permission to
hold protests about environmental dangers, the administration and censorship typical
stuff for a campus demonstration. Each time, Reyes was turned down by officials who

Free Speech
said the student union where the creative writing student wanted to talk was not one of
the two free-speech zones on the campus of 17,000 students.