Table of Contents
‘Daily Pennsylvanian’ Comments on Penn’s Green Light Rating
In a column in today’s Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania (Penn) freshman Jamie France commends Penn for its green light rating on ݮƵAPP’s Spotlight. After explaining ݮƵAPP’s system of evaluation and pointing out that Penn and Dartmouth were the only Ivy League institutions to receive a green light, France wrote:
By allowing us to do and say what we want, within reason, Penn is fostering our potential to become the innovative minds of the future.During a time when so few people have the confidence to voice heretical opinions, colleges must be responsible for instilling attitudes of boldness, in its students. Students who graduate with the ability to express themselves—who don't feel constrained by a fear of being punished or, worse, misunderstood—will one day achieve far greater success than those who sit on the silent sidelines.
A perfect outlook. Use college to cultivate a certain comfort level where students feel at ease expressing themselves in an environment where their views may stir debate or face opposition. In a society where we are constantly bombarded with competing messages and forced to decide which beliefs to adopt as our own, it is crucial that our universities prepare their students for facing that inevitable “real world” where they need to be able to accept or disagree with an unlimited number of other expressions day in and day out. Students need to be unafraid of putting their own ideas into the mix, and spending time in an institution that values the fundamentals of free speech is an excellent starting point.
Recent Articles
FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.
Judge orders release of Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk
Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk was jailed for an op-ed. A judge just ordered her release: If you're feeling the chill on campus, we want to hear from you. Free speech belongs to everyone.
After brazen attack on expressive rights, faculty at Sterling College aren’t in Kansas anymore
Sterling College punished two professors for speaking out — despite its promises of free expression. Now ݮƵAPP urges the college to honor its word.
Colorado reversal on misgendering ban is a crisis averted but a danger revealed
Colorado lawmakers just gutted a bill that would've punished misgendering. Call it a victory for free speech, but we should reflect on how we came so close to losing.
Zick on executive orders and official orthodoxies — First Amendment News 469
First Amendment News is a weekly blog and newsletter about free expression issues by Ronald K. L. Collins and is editorially independent from ݮƵAPP.