Speech codes are valuable and should be understood for what they are and for what they are not. First, speech codes will not result and have not resulted in the reduction of our freedom of speech. Additionally, speech codes protect students and empower them to respond to certain speech acts without resorting to violence. Finally, speech codes are well within the rights of universities to enforce. To allow harassment to continue on campuses in the name of protecting freedom of speech is to lose sight of the real issues at hand.
Students enter universities fully cognizant that they have surrendered certain rights.
I do not enter Japanese restaurants proclaiming the right to wear my shoes. When I walk through the door, I agree to the rules. Likewise, today's students are fully aware they may not use hate speech on campus. No rights are lost, as students choose either to enter campus or not. The obligations of the university must also be taken into consideration.