Our Obligation: Protecting Free Speech and Fostering Inclusive Environments

Authors

Patricia Telles-Irvin

Abstract

There is much discussion and debate these days on college campuses on how to protect freedom of expression while, at the same time, cultivate an inclusive en-vironment that promotes learning for all members of the community. While it is clear that freedom of expression is fundamental to the mission of an institution of higher education, creating an inclusive community can be challenging when toxic speech, under the protection of the First Amendment, aims only to demean and marginalize groups of individuals with no true redeeming value to advance knowledge. If our core mission is to educate by allowing the expression of diver-gent thoughts and perspectives, what lessons are being learned from this behavior? Where does targeted negative vitriol fit into a campus community whose mission is to educate?

Recommended Citation

Patricia Telles-Irvin, Our Obligation: Protecting Free Speech and Fostering Inclusive Environments, 2018 J. Disp. Resol. (2018)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/jdr/vol2018/iss2/10