Michigan is considering a pair of new bills aimed at protecting free speech after protesters have disturbed, interrupted and ended multiple debates. <\/p>\n
Grant Strobl, thenational chairman forYoung Americans for Freedomat theUniversity of Michigan is leading the chargeto rid the campus of unfairdiscrimination against speech based on certainviewpoints,Michigan Livereported Tuesday. <\/p>\n
The university does have the obligation to prevent students from heckling and basically taking over an event. They can protest outside or host their own event, said Strobl. <\/p>\n
He noted that the universitys current free speechpolicyisnt bad but recommended improvements to encourageuniversities to adhere totheir policies. He said the biggest problem is that the policies arenot regularly enforced, and helped createtwobillsaimed at amending this weakness that will be presented to the Michigan State Senate. Bill 0349 and Bill 0350 are currently under consideration,according to a July 11 statement from Strobl. <\/p>\n
Together called the campus free speech act,the billswould demand that collegesand universities allowcontroversial speakers and ideas to circulate, even those considered deeply offensive. <\/p>\n
Freedom of speech has turned into freedom from speech said state Sen. Patrick Colbeck, lead sponsor of the legislation. Students are trying to shut down any discussion of issues that they dont agree with, he added. <\/p>\n
The bills would applyto Michigans 15 public universities and 28 community colleges, and would require either a yearlong suspension or expulsion of students that repeatedly infringe on the speech rights of others.I think most of the provisions are effective means of encouraging us to enforce free speech polices, Strobl said. <\/p>\n
Others, like the Michigan Association of State Universities, do not support the bills and insist thelegislation is unnecessary and duplicative. <\/p>\n
This, to me, is typical of institutions cracking down against students that are advocating for themselves saidVikrant Garg, apublic health student and organizer of Students4Justiceat the university.This bill, and the people that make these decisionsoperate under a framework in which they can silence us and inflict violence against us with no consequences. <\/p>\n
When a lot of students think conservative mainstream ideals equal violence, it creates an atmosphere where we cant talk to each other, Strobl said in response. Thats one of the things I was looking forward to in attending UM being able to have reasonable, civil discussion. <\/p>\n
Follow Graceon Twitter. <\/p>\n
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