Speech Codes on Campus

Over the weekend you spent a little bit of time learning about speech codes on campus, what they are and the foundations of the law behind them.  Today, you will take a look at how these might be put into practice.  To do so, please follow the steps below:

1. Read Jim Crow on Fraternity Row
2. Next look at the pictures in the this slideshow
3. Begin a new post on your blog and respond to the articles and pictures.  What do you think?  Should the behavior depicted be outlawed or banned on campus?  Why or why not?
4. Go to the FIRE website and read their mission statement and what they are about. 
5. Look at the "What are Speech Codes?" article and "About Speech Codes" so that you understand how FIRE is defining them.
6. Go to "Using FIRE's Spotlight" in order to understand how to use their database.
7. Go to the database and select a college or university that you have an interest in.
8. Go back to your blog and continue your post by responding to the following:
• Describe your chosen university's speech codes (or lack of them).  How do your university’s policies or restrictions on free speech impact you as a prospective student? Does it influence or change the way you view the school? Do you believe that your university’s speech codes are legal or do they infringe on your rights to free speech?
• How might your university react to the parties that you read about in the previous activity?  Would you agree or disagree with their reaction?
9. Spend any remaining time browsing FIRE’s website.  Explore their reports, articles, current events, projects.  Then continue your post.  What do you think of FIRE?  Do you agree with their perspective?  Do you agree with their definitions of what constitutes a speech code? Are the “restrictions” and codes they point out necessarily harmful or do they protect students?
10. Write a concluding thought.

9/11

As we head into the weekend and the 10th anniversary of 9/11 it is important to take stock of where the United States is as a nation 10 years after, what's changed, what has been strentgthened and what has been lost. For your next post, take some time and reflect on the impact of 9/11 to the world, our nation, our community,and you. Begin by exploring the following links. Read some of the articles (choose one to bring to class to discuss on Monday, 9/12) and then write your next post. In your post, you should have one paragraph discussing your thoughts about the film that we watched in class, another paragraph discussing any articles that you read, and a final, personal paragraph with your own thoughts about your relationship with 9/11 as a moment in history and it's impact on your life today.
9/11 News Links:
NY Times Topics
The Atlantic 9/11 10 Years Later
The Nation 9/11 at 10
CNN 9/11 10 Years On

Blogging Continued

As you continue to develop your blog, take some time today to make it your own. Play with the background and design. Think about the kinds of gadgets that you might like on your blog. Begin to create lists of popular links or blogs that you use or follow. Have fun with it.
For your second blog post, reflect on what we've been talking about in class over the last few days. What do you think about students' right to free speech? Is it broad enough? Is it too restrictive? Is it not restrictive enough? Are there any examples or stories you can share from your own experience? Work to use specifics and details from the materials given in class in your responses. Take some time to develop your ideas thoroughly. This post should be at least a couple of paragraphs long.
When you are finished you should browse other students' blogs from class. Read and comment on any post that strikes you as interesting. Decide if their blog looks interesting enough to become a follower.
Happy blogging!