This trending article on CNN caught my attention real quick. Public relations and free speech on college campuses in a battle. CNN Reports: “War on campus: The escalating battle over college free speech”. It appears that a brawl broke out at Auburn University, resulting in badgered individuals and arrests.
CNN Reports, “Free speech came to fisticuffs before alt-right white nationalist Richard Spencer could even begin his speech at Auburn University. Students encircling the brawl said a Spencer supporter began jawing with an antifa, or anti-fascist, protester over Spencer’s right to speak. A punch was thrown. The men spun through the crowd, swinging fists and grasping for headlocks before thudding to the ground. It was over in seconds with both men in cuffs — one of them bloodied — and carted off to jail. Auburn had tried four days earlier to cancel Spencer’s speech Tuesday night. But a federal judge forced the public university to let him exercise his First Amendment rights.” (CNN.com)

When I first laid eyes on the article, I didn’t even realize what the student who was speaking was about, which now after further review appears to be white nationalist (and call me ignorant, but I don’t truly know what that means- I will have to look that one up next, but I am sure I can take a guess). Before I even understood what the context of the argument was, my first thought was you have a right to free speech, as long as your free speech doesn’t infringe on my right to safety at my school. As a mother of a college student, I want to know my kid is safe at all times while in campus. I also want to believe in free speech, and the right for people to be able to speak, but what do we as a country do when those words that a person is saying may be considered so hurtful or offensive to others, that it incites violence? Not saying violence is right, or the answer. I’m posing the question; how do we solve this problem? Just in the few minutes that I am writing about the issue, my first thought is, you know, I don’t know. I am sure that we, meaning “we the people” are in more of a reactive state than a proactive state regarding the issue.

I am also sure that when our forefathers gave us these rights, that the intention would not be that it would resort to where we are at today, whereas we are making decisions that affect our children’s, and young adults in the world. CNN Reports, “The episode comes amid what critics say is a growing intolerance for the exchange of ideas at American colleges and universities. In recent months’ battles, over free speech on campuses have descended into violence across the nation. The University of California, Berkeley, erupted into near-riots in February during protests against professional provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and again last week over President Donald Trump.” (CNN.com).
One student on CNN reports “When there’s no more argument, there’s no more progress.” (CNN.com).

It’s interesting to me that our young people are vastly aware that the more media attention to a problem, the more eyes on it, the more results. My 18-year-old son (and college student) and I disagreed on the last presidential campaign. He liked one candidate and I liked the other (disclaimer, I had to pick the lesser of two evils). With that being said he said “mom, if we have a bad candidate, more will get done because of the uproar.”. It’s very similar to what the other college student reported. It’s almost as if it’s the status quo in some instances, like what people say about Hollywood actors, “no news is bad news”.

Unfortunately, social media is so quick, I am sure many of these colleges haven’t really had to deal with these types of situations yet. I believe that if the subject can potentially incite violence, the student needs to find another place to share their views. A universities responsibility is to the safety of our students, first. That is what I want to believe, but I understand its more complicated when the federal government gets involved and “big brother is watching”.

References
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/20/us/campus-free-speech-trnd/index.html