Voices

Freedom of speech a core issue for Georgetown’s future

February 27, 2014


Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. Georgetown’s religious affiliation does not give the University administration the right to curtail speech, period.

We were incensed when we learned that GUPD forced H*yas for Choice out of Healy Circle on Jan. 20. The administration knew that any student group, and any individual for that matter, is entitled to protest and speak freely in Healy Circle. Students have been entitled to do so since 1989, when the University and the student body sat down together and hammered out an agreement that finally set Georgetown along a path towards unabridged freedom of speech.

But after years of poor engagement with the University, this fundamental right has languished. We appreciate the Tisa administration’s recent efforts to pressure the administration for a memorandum of understanding and ensuing clarification of free speech at Georgetown. But, as we await the administration’s response, we want to make it clear that should the university fail to provide unwavering support for unrestricted speech at Georgetown, we will be prepared to fight.

Indeed, free speech, along with sexual assault reform, is one of the two initiatives for which the GUSA Executive must be prepared to fight. With the relationships we’ve made with university officials and our superior ideas for reforms, we’re the best team for the job.

We have both worked extensively with the university administration in the past and the rapport we’ve developed with these officials uniquely positions us to pressure the university in ways that other tickets couldn’t. We know these people, and, as a result, we will take a collaborative approach for reforms for which other tickets would have to be combative.

Our free speech reforms are two-fold. First, we propose that a Special Representative for Free Speech be added to the GUSA Executive cabinet who can aid any student who feels their rights regarding free speech are being violated. This Representative will be a student who has extensive experience in fighting for student rights, especially the absolute right to freedom of expression. Furthermore, the Special Representative will act to enforce a universal Free Speech Zone throughout campus.

In order to facilitate the work and speed in which the representative can respond, the representative’s personal contact information will be readily available to all clubs on campus, recognized or otherwise. We understand that these issues sometime require immediate, timely responses, and we look to address that issue with our Special Representative for Free Speech.

This representative will be able to respond to any complaint regarding the violation of the right to free speech on campus and cite official university policy in order to resolve the issue. Additionally, the representative will be able to contact the proper administrators and authorities if needed. Finally, the representative will be an active advocate for the expansion of the right to free speech on campus so that every student can express their opinion on any topic without the fear of repercussions.

Secondly, we want to allow any student to reserve any room at any time for any event so long as the room was not previously reserved. Moreover, we will centralize this booking system, adding it to our proposed student hub/website Hoyalife.com. In a Ben & Sam administration, the ability to reserve space on campus would be extended beyond clubs to individual students, ensuring the right to free speech anywhere on campus.

Georgetown University must be a place where students, regardless of background or opinion, can voice any idea, any belief, without fear of derision or discrimination. While Georgetown’s Jesuit traditions and values do occasionally conflict with student interests and initiatives, free speech is an absolute right for everyone, regardless of content. We will work to defend that right.

Free speech is a basic and absolute right for every human being. It’s time GUSA and the university started treating it as one.



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