Elon students expressed their concerns about free speech on private campuses as part of this month's First Thursday forum. Students addressed recent censorship of a student's posters and Elon's future plans to help facilitate and promote free speech on campus.
Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of Student Life, said the university is discussing possible plans to create kiosks in certain areas of campus where students may put up handwritten posters. There are also plans to make it easier for students to register events for the Speakers' Corner in Moseley.
"We don't want the difficulty of a process to get in the way of possible student events," Jackson said.
Some students expressed concerns over Elon's apparent lack of an informal place to express themselves.
"Elon doesn't seem to have a student union area for free expression the way that other schools do," said freshman Michael Lindsey. "UNC has a place called 'The Pit' where students can hang up signs and stage events."
Lindsey said he is glad the administration wants to make it easier for students to hold demonstrations, but thinks getting permission to protest might defeat the purpose.
"When you protest, you are trying to shake things up," he said. "Making it so organized somewhat defeats the purpose." Junior Dean Coots said he thought some of Elon's concern regarding the posters may be a result of the type of students Elon attracts.
"The administration makes Elon a certain way, which attracts a certain kind of person," he said. "The administration is going to be concerned if there is something that type of person finds very offensive on a tour of the school, like those posters."
Students said Elon must also appeal to parents in order to attract new students, as they are ultimately the people footing the bill for most students' tuition.
"Parents want to feel OK about where their kids are going to school," said junior Bridget Riley. "While this is important, it can stifle diversity."
As Elon is a private institution, it is not required to allow demonstrations on campus. But Jackson said the university would not attempt to hinder students' abilities to protest.
"Obviously, we choose not to restrict free speech on campus, and we plan to keep it that way," he said.
The Speakers' Corner was originally introduced last February on West Lawn in response to a visit from former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2009.
A committee, chaired by Pam Kiser, professor of human service studies, examined the principles of Elon's civic engagement policies, including how to address protests and guest speakers on campus.
Under the previous standards, students hoping to register an event were required to to fill out a form, available at the Moseley Center desk and online, which then had to be approved by Moseley Center staff.Elon students expressed their concerns about free speech on private campuses as part of this month's First Thursday forum. Students addressed both recent censorship of a student's posters and Elon's future plans to help facilitate and promote free speech on campus.
Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of Student Life, said the university is discussing possible plans to create kiosks in certain areas of campus where students may put up handwritten posters. There are also plans to make it easier for students to register events for the speaker's corner in Moseley.
"We don't want the difficulty of a process to get in the way of possible student events," Jackson said.
Some students expressed concerns over Elon's apparent lack of an informal place to express themselves.
"Elon doesn't seem to have a student union area for free expression the way that other schools do," said freshman Michael Lindsey. "UNC has a place called 'The Pit' where students can hang up signs and stage events."
Lindsey said he is glad the administration wants to make it easier for students to hold demonstrations, but that getting permission to protest might defeat the purpose.
"When you protest, you are trying to shake things up," he said. "Making it so organized somewhat defeats the purpose."
Junior Dean Coots said he thought some of Elon's concern regarding the posters may be a result of the type of students Elon attracts.
"The administration makes Elon a certain way, which attracts a certain kind of person," he said. "The administration is going to be concerned if there is something that type of person finds very offensive on a tour of the school, like those posters."
Elon must also appeal to parents in order to attract new students, as they are ultimately the people footing the bill for most students' tuition.
"Parents want to feel okay about where their kids are going to school," said junior Bridget Riley. "While this is important, it can stifle diversity."
As Elon is a private institution, it is not required to allow demonstrations on campus. But Jackson said the university would not attempt to hinder students' abilities to protest.
"Obviously, we choose not to restrict free speech on campus, and we plan to keep it that way," he said.