COCO 29 Free Speech on Campus
Who is allowed to say what on college campuses? This course seeks to answer this question using the disciplines of government, public policy and law. We will look at the philosophical foundations of the right to free speech and why it is considered essential to liberty and democracy. We will also read judicial opinions defining the legal parameters of the first amendment, particularly as it pertains to “hate speech.” We will then turn to the specific case of the university, where values such as equality, inclusion, pedagogy and academic freedom may sometimes be in tension. The course will survey the history of attempts to regulate speech on campuses, including early 20th century disputes between university benefactors and professors, the hate speech codes of the 1980’s, as well as present controversies over free speech on college campuses. Students will discuss and write about contemporary conflicts using frameworks established in the disciplines of law and policy. Assignments will include written responses to readings, written analyses of contemporary problems, and legal memoranda for or against disciplinary action.