University of Wyoming Wyoming Scholars Repository Fall 2016 POLS 1101, Dangerous Ideas: The First Amendment in Theory and Practice Fall 2016 Safe Spaces for Dangerous Ideas Jackson Barrier University of Wyoming Allana Bustos University of Wyoming Josh Calvert University of Wyoming Calvin Chalstrom University of Wyoming Skylar Chambers University of Wyoming See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.uwyo.edu/pols1101_fa16 Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Publication Information Barrier, Jackson; Bustos, Allana; Calvert, Josh; Chalstrom, Calvin; Chambers, Skylar; Cresalia, Stephen; Franklin, Samantha; Harris, Bailee; Hartranft, Dillon; Hendrickson, Justin; Hornlein, Leena; Hyche, Ashley; Jones, Conagher; Lueken, Ben; Maldonado, Gabriel; McHale, Ryan; Miller, Nicole; Mooney, Sean; Pauling, Chandler; Poteet, Dakota; Warberg, Kaylie; and Williams, Gideon, "Safe Spaces for Dangerous Ideas" (2016). Fall 2016. Paper 1. http://repository.uwyo.edu/pols1101_fa16/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the POLS 1101, Dangerous Ideas: The First Amendment in Theory and Practice at Wyoming Scholars Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fall 2016 by an authorized administrator of Wyoming Scholars Repository. For more information, please contact scholcom@uwyo.edu.
Authors Jackson Barrier, Allana Bustos, Josh Calvert, Calvin Chalstrom, Skylar Chambers, Stephen Cresalia, Samantha Franklin, Bailee Harris, Dillon Hartranft, Justin Hendrickson, Leena Hornlein, Ashley Hyche, Conagher Jones, Ben Lueken, Gabriel Maldonado, Ryan McHale, Nicole Miller, Sean Mooney, Chandler Pauling, Dakota Poteet, Kaylie Warberg, and Gideon Williams This article is available at Wyoming Scholars Repository: http://repository.uwyo.edu/pols1101_fa16/1
Safe Spaces for Dangerous Ideas? POLS 1110
Introduction Research Question: How do students on college campuses feel about the freedom of speech and current events involving free speech? Do they support restrictions on free speech on college campuses? Examples might include safe spaces, regulations (vs. training) against micro-aggressions, or other campusbased speech restrictions. Hypothesis: We believe that we will learn that, (1) Restrictions on freedom of speech have been accepted by students at some U.S. colleges and universities, but not at other institutions. 2) University of Wyoming students will be against the restriction of freedom of speech. We chose to research this topic because it is a very hot topic in current issues. It is also a very relevant topic to us as college students. Kaylie W.
Definitions Bias Response Teams: Colleges across America are creating shadowy groups to handle complaints about bias on campus that is offensive to students. Example: removing racist posters. University of Northern Colorado. Trigger Warnings: A warning to sensitive students about information that is to come that could possibly offend someone Micro Aggressions: A comment or action that is subtly and often unintentionally hostile or demeaning to a member of a minority or marginalized group Freedom of Speech: What is not protected under the First Amendment: there is no content based restriction with the exception of child pornography, which is never allowed. Speech is also restricted on the basis of time, place and manner. Kaylie W.
University of Chicago University of Chicago s Dean of Students sent out an email before the school year started to all incoming freshman. Class of 2020. You will find that we expect members of our community to be engaged in rigorous debate, discussion, and even disagreement. At times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort. Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called trigger warnings, we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own. Washington Post 8 Nov 2016. Dillon H.
Duke University- Activist Demands Disciplinary sanctions for students who attend culturally insensitive parties (often associated with fraternities) Mandatory bias training for all professors Loss of possibility of tenure if a professor engages in discriminatory attitudes behind speech that inhibits the possible achievements of minority students Leena H.
Yale University Email to student body from the Intercultural Affairs Committee with support from the president asking for students to avoid culturally insensitive Halloween costumes in 2015. Ms. Christakis, a residential college administrator, did not enforce this decision and went on to send an email that said students should wear what they want. Many students called for her resignation. On the other hand many students wanted the right to express themselves freely. This has fueled the racial relations debate at Yale. Leena H.
University of Wyoming ASUW: Chris Ryan, Director of Governmental Affairs Does not have an official opinion on the issues will be sensitive and protective of the liberties and respect to which each individual student is entitled Students are to abide by the code of conduct Office of General Counsel: Tami Benham Deal from Academic Affairs The University s official stance is that the University follows the applicable laws regarding speech, demonstrations, or other forms of expression that may offend or otherwise bring about controversy on campus Conagher J. & Calvin C.
The mission of FIRE is to defend and sustain individual rights at America s colleges and universities including freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience The university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. The university or college s policies restrict a limited amount of protected expression or has vague wording The University of Wyoming has a red light rating for prohibiting sexist language The university does not clearly restrict speech, free speech is not threatened Ashley H.
UW s History with the First Amendment William Ayers Speech (2010) Black 14 (1969) Textbook Controversy (1947-48) Conagher J. & Calvin C.
Divided US Administration Spoken openly many times that he does not support the creation of safe spaces I mean, I guess that might work in the Soviet Union, but it doesn t work here. That s not who we are; that s not what we re about. The President Education Secretary Wrote a letter to his colleagues asking that they work to make diverse, safe, inclusive, and supportive college campuses. (18 Nov.) John B. King Jr. Bailee H.
How are campuses across the nation dealing with safe spaces in the wake of the election? Brown and University of Michigan Law set up safe spaces with coloring books, cookies, and Play-Doh Michigan State provided pizza and a space to talk Stanford and University of Michigan Flint provided psychological counseling University of Pennsylvania had coloring books and puppies Yale had a group scream The University of Wyoming sent out supportive emails with resources on campus provided Dakota P.
The Election Marginalized and silenced part of the campuses Trump supporters are made to feel like they supported the wrong candidate Not accepted Promoting uniformity not diversity Nurturing some and excluding others Infantilizes students instead of teaching how to handle the inevitable tensions of the real world Chandler P.
Josh C. & Gabe M. The Pros and Cons - Safe Spaces are somewhere ALL people can embrace their own identity w/o fear of ridicule - Provide a support network - No idea is an idea worth debating - People are encouraged to share their opinions and ideas PRO Are the risks worth the reward? CON - The one sided discussions in safe spaces can lead to discrimination - Can be detrimental to mental health - Forces professors to change classroom curriculum to avoid offending students - Can lead to further partisanship and deepening of one s own prejudices
Conclusion After researching we conclude that Safe Spaces should not be implemented by a university but special groups could create them for special purposes. Bailee H.
Sources Aerial Campus. N.d. Uwyo.edu. Web. 08 Nov. 2016. Bernstein, David. "Two Cheers for President Obama s Support for Free Speech on Campus." The Washington Post. WP Company, 18 Nov. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Benham-Deal, Tami B. Inquiry for FYS Class Message to Conagher Jones. 11/23/16. Email Carpenean, Andy. N.d. Wyohistory.org. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Duke2. N.d. Wikipedia. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. "Defending Individual Rights in Higher Education." FIRE. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Obama, Barack. "President Obama Stands up for Free Speech on Campus." New York Post. N.p., 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2016. Ryan, Chris. UW and the First Amendment Message to Conagher Jones. 11/10/16. Email Reynolds, Glenn Harlan. "'Tolerant' Educators Exile Trump Voters from Campus: Glenn Reynolds." USA Today. Gannett, 15 Nov. 2016. Web. 08 Nov. 2016. Stack, Liam. "Yale s Halloween Advice Stokes a Racially Charged Debate." The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 Nov. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. Friedersdorf, Conor. "The Glaring Evidence That Free Speech Is Threatened on Campus." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 4 Mar. 2016. Web. 07 Dec. 2016. Green Light. N.d. Car Interior Design. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Red Light. N.d. Clker.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. King Jr., John B. Department of Education. Department of Education, 18 Nov. 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Official Portrait John B. King Jr. N.d. Department of Education. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Locher, John. 2016. Billboard.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Make America Great Again. N.d. Heavy.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Stratuss, Valerie. "So You like the University of Chicago s Rejection of safe Spaces for Students? Consider This." The Washington Post. WP Company, 30 Aug. 2016. Web. 08 Nov. 2016. "University of Wyoming Code of Conduct." University of Wyoming Code of Conduct. University of Wyoming, n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2016. Yale University Office. N.d. Glassdoor.com. Web. 1 Dec. 2016. Yellow Light. N.d. Clker.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2016. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. Safe Spaces. N.d. Ocps.net. Web. 1 Dec. 2016.
University of Wyoming s Views on Safe Spaces
Introduction Our Process # of people interviewed: 100 Where
The data
What is your gender?
What is your position on campus?
Race Rather not answer: 15
Do you feel there s an issue with offensive speech on campus?
What speech, if any, should be restricted on campus?
Do you feel safe spaces would be beneficial or detrimental to education on campus?
Would you support the university of Wyoming becoming a campus-wide safe space?
If no, would you support certain safe zones on campus?
Do you think safe spaces will affect you positively or negatively if implemented?
Do you feel safe spaces would prevent offensive speech on the university of Wyoming s campus?
Comments we received Regarding racism: 2 Regarding hate speech: 5 How they felt about people speaking their mind: 4 How it may make other people feel: 2
Conclusions and final inferences
- Agree with some restrictions - Should not be campus wide safe space Agree with some areas - Data corresponds with Hypothesis - Data didn't completely flow with answers to previous questions - Large portion did not know much about the topic
Students in POLS 1101 First Year Seminar Fall 2016 * Dangerous Ideas: The First Amendment in Theory and Practice Jackson Barrier Allana Bustos Josh Calvert Calvin Chalstrom Skylar Chambers Stephen Cresalia Samantha Franklin Bailee Harris Dillon Hartranft Justin Hendrickson Leena Hornlein Ashley Hyche Conagher Jones Ben Lueken Gabriel Maldonado Ryan McHale Nicole Miller Sean Mooney Chandler Pauling Dakota Poteet Kaylie Warberg Gideon Williams * As part of the course requirements for POLS 1101, these students defined, designed, and implemented this research project. They presented it on 6 December 2016 to a Learning Mentors Panel of outside experts knowledgeable about First Amendment issues.