First Amendment rights suppressed on campus?
By Jessica Carver
IV Leader Staff, April 12, 2007
The First Amendment of the constitution states, “Congress
shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.”
Patrick Henry once said, “The Constitution is not an
instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for
the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and
interests.”
IVCC President Larry Huffman said, “A number of community
colleges have experienced an increase in various groups coming onto campus for
rallies or demonstrations or to distribute information about products or
services. I think perhaps this is a safeguard rather than reacting to something
later.”
A recent Ottawa Daily Times article reported that the college
has instituted two “free speech zones” on the campus where groups are allowed to
organize or protest. One is in the lobby and the other is the practice athletic
field. If you also happen to be lucky enough, there are other areas that may be
opened up to use your First Amendment rights.
To exhibit your First Amendment rights, you must ask 48 hours
in advance for a permit, which may be denied at any time, even after a permit is
issued. As you are using your rights, you cannot implore the feelings of others
or be considered a nuisance. If there are any damages caused during the
demonstration time, whether by demonstrators or passers-by, the demonstrations
must pay the repair costs.
Bob Marshall, vice president of student services, said, “The
college supports free speech everywhere on campus. This is directed to outside
groups who have no affiliation with IVCC and just come onto campus to protest.”
The designated “free speech zones” are to ensure students and faculty are not
bothered by whoever is protesting. Marshall said, “the college can decide
who, what, when, where and why people protest.”
IVCC student Billy Berardoni responds, “I was beyond upset
when I read about this act. It takes away from our constitutional freedom.”
Although this act seems to be directed at outsider groups, it is still no less
stifling of students’ free speech. I do not want to see anti-abortion
protesters, for example, but they have every right to express their opinions as
freely as a group of students protesting certain teaching practices.
The school is doing more than dictating when and where
outside groups can demonstrate, they are now taking away freedom of speech. Some
people may have the idea that since we are only college students, we have no
reason to protest anything.
I didn’t realize that there was an age requirement to feel
strongly on a subject. I would think it would be a good thing that we as college
students are informed enough to protest on a subject.
Did the board really believe they could pass this and no one
would notice or care? Students may feel compelled to protest this action. There
are enough of us that care and want to do something about it. Those of us that
are informed enough to get our voices heard and want to make a difference.
We want all of IVCC to be designated a “free speech
zone.”