Is Free Speech on College Campuses Really Free?

You might have seen the viral videos featuring a woman called “Sister Cindy,” who travels to college campuses across the U.S. preaching about her religious beliefs. It is incredibly captivating to watch this woman “do some good old-fashioned slut shaming” while referring to female students as “whores,” “hoes,” and “sluts.” Most do recognize her performance as just that: entertainment. But “Sister Cindy” isn’t the only “activist” visiting college campuses to spread their beliefs, and their presence raises important questions about on-campus speech and safety. What happens when these public speakers preach ideals that harm students? What happens when their preaching turns aggressive, racist, and sexist? What happens when their words become verbal assaults?

I am a college sophomore at Texas Tech University, and on my first day of classes this year, I walked outside to be met by a man in a red shirt with the words “Women Are Property” printed on it. At first, I thought it was some ill-humored joke. But then he began to shout. He claimed that women are the property of their husbands and fathers and that women are not able to think for themselves — that a woman’s job is to serve her husband. I was utterly shocked and even tried to argue back. I asked him, “If women are property, why am I paying for my own tuition?” But speaking to him was pointless. He ignored my question and instead pointedly asked my friend if she was a virgin. I left as he was shouting, “Feminists are going to hell!”

This encounter was mild in comparison to what I faced just a few feet farther. I stumbled into another man who was holding a large sign that read “Abortion is murder” and featured a picture of a full-term miscarriage (the implication being that it was an abortion). He proceeded to yell that homosexuals are evil and going to hell. Then, when a group of students began to ask him questions, he not only refused to acknowledge that his poster showed a picture of a miscarriage instead of an abortion, but began spouting blatantly racist remarks. He told Muslim students that they were dangerous and more likely to have a bomb on them. He asserted that the events of 9/11 were their fault and that all Muslims are dangerous. He called himself a “cracker” and verbally lashed out at the students around him.

Both of these men were spouting offensive things and targeting students based on their gender, race, and ethnicity. They did so out of their certainty that they were protected by “free speech,” yet this idea of free speech is hypocritical given that if students were to say such hateful things, they would face rigorous academic consequences. Though students pay thousands of dollars to attend this university, our speech isn’t nearly as free. We face consequences for verbally targeting other students. As we should — and as should any speaker who behaves this way on a college campus. And yet these visitors to campus seem to face no consequences; they continue to return to campus year after year.

Universities across the U.S. love to say how diverse, inclusive, and welcoming they are. But these claims are undermined when you can be told you’re going to hell because of your personal beliefs in your daily life on campus. If we, the students, can’t exhibit this kind of behavior in our classrooms, why is it allowed right outside of them? It is important that universities like mine remain a home for the free expression of ideas; constructive discussion should be welcomed. But harassment and hate speech should not be confused for free speech, and should not be tolerated.

I don’t propose to take away free speech on college campuses. Instead, let’s allow free speech areas to only be occupied by the students, student organizations, and faculty of that university. If we uphold a welcoming community inside our classrooms, shouldn’t it be maintained in the areas in between?