FREE SPEECH AT FRESNO STATE

Free speech is a hot topic at Fresno State. The area on campus designated for free speech is sometimes seen as a nuisance by students, especially during visits by certain groups.

For example, Reverend Jed has been preaching on college campuses all over the U.S. since 1972. President Castro sent an email to students stating that the Fresno State campus is a free-speech zone and people like Reverend Jed have the right to speak. But some students don’t like the practice. “I don’t think he understands the magnitude of what these people are saying,” said student Zyon Goodman.

Another student, Becca Colburn, thinks such speakers are just looking for attention, which is what they’re getting. “They will say something that we don’t like and of course students don’t like it so they are going to react to it in a negative way.”

But political science professor Dr. Thomas Holyoke said there are limits to what can be done to prevent such speech: “The university really can’t do anything to prevent Brother Jed, his followers from saying whatever they want. Just like Fresno State really cannot in any way prevent the students from shouting equally offensive things back at Brother Jed.”

President Castro said students should ignore speakers who they feel are being offensive and remember that the First Amendment protects everyone, even those whose speech we don’t like.