Free Speech Controversy

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Recommended: Freedom of speech at universities

By DREW SULLIVAN
AMHERST -- Free speech is often subject to debate, and at the University of Massachusetts, a federal lawsuit is being filed against the university for violating the free speech of a campus group. Students weighed in on the ongoing controversy. On January 8th, the Young Americans for Liberty student group has named UMass President Marty Meehan and UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy among others in a federal lawsuit involving free speech on campus. The group, alongside economics major Nicholas Consolini, contend that their right to free speech is being unconstitutionally violated. As per the UMass Regulation for Use of Property, outdoor speeches and rallies are only to be held on the west side of the Student Union, only between …show more content…

"I wouldn't say it's being violated, instead it's being regulated in some way. A violation would be to say that you can't have it altogether" said Shanas, adding that "It's (free speech) pretty important. You have to have a whole cluster of ideas coming together for the sake of challenging belief systems and growing." The attorneys representing Consolini and the Young Americans for Liberty believe that this current university policy "creates a chilling effect on speech and deters students from engaging in their First Amendment rights." Mariana Parella, a sophomore studio art major, believes that while there aren't legal limitations to free speech, there are most definitely social limitations. "For instance, if you're advocating for the rise of Nazism, then obviously there are social repercussions for that, and the general public has the freedom of speech to counteract that." Other students, such as sophomores Zach Mangson and Benno Kraehe, of philosophy and journalism respectively, also drew a line in the sand when it comes to free speech. "You can't yell fire in a movie theater. You can't try to incite mass panic for no given reason." said Mangson. Kraehe believes the rights associated with free speech ends with threats of

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