Speech Codes in Place at Universities Should be Banned

Speech codes - A rule or regulation that limits, restricts, or bans speech beyond the strict legal limitations upon freedom of speech or press found in the legal definitions of harassment, slander, libel and fighting words. - Source: http://en.wikipedia.org... Micro-aggression - Everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com... I will counter the points of the Pro as follows: 1. Speech codes cause illusions contrary to life. 2. Speech codes violate our first amendment. 3. Princeton Micro-aggression Complaint. 1. I stand in contrast to the assertion by the Pro, that speech codes prepare students for life. I will take a quote directly from a page on the US Department of labor, "Under federal law and Department of Labor (DOL) policy, harassment by DOL employees of DOL employees based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or parental status is prohibited. The Department of Labor does not permit harassing conduct by anyone in the workplace, including contractors." While the wording does vary as you will find if you visit various programs on workplace harassment, the gist is going to be very much the same. While the pro has a negative view on the subject, assuming that it will make students who are unaware of their flaws, this quote helps to prove that in fact it allows students to know what to expect in life. We as American citizens do, with special exceptions, have the right to exercise our rights stipulated in the first amendment of the Constitution. However, simply because we have the right does not mean that we should use the right. The common term used in society is being politically correct. With Americans becoming increasingly aware of the massive variation of values that there are, they are also realizing that they cannot say what they wish and get away with it, especially in the workplace. In a work environment, workers must be able to communicate adequately and work well together. This cannot be accomplished with people who have no understanding of what it means to "hold your tongue". 2. The pro claims that speech codes violate our right as American citizens to free speech. In this they are correct, but at the same time the context of their assertion nullifies its value. When students enroll in and begin attending a college or university (hereafter both will simply be referred to as university for less redundancy), they must sign an agreement to abide by the rules of the entity they are contracting with. This is not enforced on the passer by, instead the students signed and agreed that they would follow these speech codes, nullifying any violation of the first amendment. 3. The final point to cover is the specific example offered by the pro on a student reporting an apparently ridiculous thing where he should have just moved on. However, I would like to note that the complaint he filed does fall completely within the definition of Micro-aggressions. He reported being made fun of often for his unique pronunciation of the word "cool whip" as he fell in to a minority in this particular case. Rather than being a "marshmallow", as the pro describes students who are in effect being trained to be aware of their actions, he dutifully reported to the appropriate area his issue. In summation, the con argument has brought up and negated his major points, the minor ones appear to be so closely related that they were considered a part of one of the three points for the purpose of this round. Aside from my two sources for those definitions, below you will find directly referenced as well as helpful sources that I used in formulating my response. - http://www.eeoc.gov... - http://www.dol.gov... - http://www.nationalreview.com...