Whether you’re the type to use it or not, everybody understands the importance of a right such as free speech.
At an institution like Moorpark College, students expect that their rights can be safely exercised in areas defined aptly as “free-speech zones.” But as it turns out, this term is outdated and the rights of students have in fact grown even bigger, however only in physical size.
The opportunity to speak your mind, state your claims, and express your feelings are precious privileges not paralleled by all countries and at times can seem like more than just a basic human right.
“Everyone should have the right to speech and more, but when you see other countries with way less rights, it makes you feel kinda special almost.” Said David Barrientos.
A student at Moorpark College, Barrientos was under the impression that areas like the quad, the commons in front of the gymnasium, and other open grounds were something called “free-speech zones.”
After trying to look up some information on these zones, not a lot is found. According to our Moorpark Police Lieutenant, that is because the term is a little outdated and now misinformed.
“That was a term that was used previously, however in researching it, the administration found that it is better to just go with the entire campus.” Said Lt. Gregory Beckley.
Overturned through legal process, “free-speech zones” on Moorpark and many more colleges nationwide have been replaced with a more unrestricted “free-speech area” policy.
“Moorpark (College) has adopted that the entire campus is a ‘free-speech area’ so long as it is not disruptive, hate speech, obscene, or that incites violence” said Lt. Beckley.
The actual Moorpark College Student’s Code of Conduct states that it prohibits “profanity, vulgarity, or other offensive conduct.” Although that sounds fairly standard, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education claims Moorpark’s code is lacking in concise and clear language.
“As tasteless as profanity may seem, such expression has been long a part of our culture high and low alike” said Samantha Harris, Director of Policy Research at FIRE.
In a 2010 report, Moorpark was the November Speech Code of the Month at FIRE. The Foundation responded to Moorpark Colleges Code of Conduct, stating the college is “prohibited from infringing on it’s students’ First Amendment rights, but this policy bans a great deal of constitutionally protected speech and expression.”
With how the code is written, the entire student body is at the conformation of the most “easily offended student” on the campus, according to Harris.
“…the policy contains no requirement that the ‘offensive conduct’ be objectively, rather than subjectively, offensive.” Said Harris.
Moorpark College, accordingly to Lt. Beckley is a wholly free-speech area. Nearly every accessible area of the campus is available to students to practice their constitutional rights, but unfortunately the code is not specific enough as to define what constitutes something beyond that of free speech.
“How could anyone discuss or quote Shakespeare-or Mark Twain… or any R-rated film-without either violating this policy or willfully ignoring the actual words being studied.” said Harris
