AMERICA UNBOUND

HOW MUCH FREE SPEECH CAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES HANDLE?


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In several landmark cases (Schenck v. United States, Brandenberg v. Ohio, among others) the US Supreme Court has ruled that free speech under the First Amendment has absolute protection unless it creates clear and present danger amounting to an imminent

threat of violence. But when does that tipping point, “an imminent threat of violence,” occur when a university president should ask the police to intervene, in which case  protesting students, numbering thousands in some cases, might turn violent at the sight of the cops.  The Gaza-Israel conflict is a complex issue
with deep historical roots and profound implications not only for diplomats and international relations experts but also for people in streets and college campuses. It is an issue that takes an existential dimension and elicits gut-wrenching emotions and polarized views, making it a challenging subject for any open and rational discussion. On college campuses, where the exchange of ideas is a fundamental principle, this issue has led to heated debates, protests, and in some cases, allegations of censorship and suppression of free speech.




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AMERICA UNBOUNDBy Dr. Narain Batra