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.