Free Speech on Campus Rouses Debate
By Sarah Wiles

Carolina is one of many colleges that have "free-speech zones." These zones are designated areas on campuses where student groups can hold spontaneous events without permission.

Executive Director of the John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, George Leef, said these areas on campuses actually hinder free speech and are unconstitutional.

"The first amendment protects - at least on governmentally sponsored campuses like the University of North Carolina - free speech throughout the entire campus,” Leef said. “You can't just designate little zones and say, ‘You can speak freely here.’"

There are four places on campus where student groups are free to gather without prior approval. These areas include the Pit, Polk Place, the area in front of the Campus Y – which is currently under construction and McCorkle Place.

Jon Curtis, assistant director of student affairs and student organizations, said these free-speech areas can help prevent the disruption of academic activity.

"The University has the academic mission first and foremost,” Curtis said. “Classes take priority over everything. So, free speech can, I'm not saying always, be disruptive at times. And that's not a problem generally speaking, but if you are outside of a classroom, it could be disruptive."

Many agree some restrictions on free speech are OK. The question remains whether free-speech zones are a reasonable restriction.