Free Speech Policy on UA Campus

At the University of Arkansas for the fall 2010 semester a new policy was instilled to limit the number of times a person who is not related to the U of A can come to campus and make a speech. The new limit is five times a semester. The previous regulation was that a person not associated with the university had to obtain a permit to speak or make exhibits on campus. A speaker still has to obtain a permit to speak but there is also a limit to five visits per semester. As most upper classmen know there is a man referred to as “Moses” who used to frequent our campus. “Moses” whose real name is Gary Bowman would come to campus to preach about sin and the evil behaviors that students allegedly partake in. Moses makes attacks on Greek life and typical college behavior like drinking. When he comes to campus it’s obvious students don’t agree with his accusations because of the muttering and whispers of disagreement from the crowd, yet Moses still gathers a large crowd sometimes of thirty people or more.

So is this policy even legal is it violating the right of free speech? Can the university decide how many times someone can come to the campus to make a speech about whatever they wish? I absolutely believe the university is permitted to establish this policy. I think that the university in a sense has the “all powerful” authority about what happens on campus. When students, faculty, and staff are on campus we have to abide by the rules and policies the university executes. As long as those policies and regulations are ethical and hold the good of the students at heart I think they are viable.

University officials claim this free speech policy was not directed at Moses but to be applied to all people not related to the university. I think that even if the policy was applied to limit the times Moses could come to our campus it is perfectly okay. Moses is a complete distraction to students on campus. Not only is he offensive and unwanted by most students, but students become distracted by his speeches and the crowds of people that surround him. I know students who have wanted to stick around to listen to Moses’ crazy allegations and have skipped class because of it. When crowds gather to listen to Moses I often have to walk around the large circle to get to my class. People should not be ban from coming to speak on our campus and they are not. It is simply that there is a limit to how many times someone can come speak which I believe is absolutely feasible. We will still hear what you want to say we just don’t want to hear it once a week.

Allison Lafargue