According to a new Gallup survey, U.S. college students have complex and, in some ways, conflicting views on the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.
They are highly confident that First Amendment rights are secure, even more so than the U.S. adult population. But many students are also comfortable limiting free speech and impeding a free press under certain circumstances.
It is an interesting survey in light of what has happened nationally and in Georgia as mainstream media have covered student rallies or protests, such as those on the campus of Emory University after someone chalked some pro Donald Trump messages on the sidewalks. A small group of students there drew international attention for some of the language they used protesting the chalkings, such as being in "pain" or fearful.
Some findings from the Gallup survey:
•Students do appear to distinguish controversial views from what they see as hate. They believe colleges should be allowed to establish policies restricting language and behavior that are intentionally offensive to certain groups, but not the expression of political views that may upset or offend members of certain groups.
•Roughly two-thirds of college students say colleges should be allowed to establish policies that restrict slurs and other language that is intentionally offensive to certain groups (69%), as well as the wearing of costumes that stereotype certain racial or ethnic groups (63%). However, college students mostly reject the idea that colleges should be able to restrict speech expressing political views that may upset or offend members of certain groups. Just 27% say colleges should be able to limit such speech, while 72% say they should not.
• There is a perception that campuses are not fully open environments. A slight majority of students, 54%, say the climate on their campus prevents some people from saying what they believe because others might find it offensive.
• When it comes to a free press, 70% of college students and 76% of U.S. adults say students should not be able to prevent the press from covering protests on college campuses.
• But students are divided when evaluating certain specific reasons to curtail press access, with nearly half saying the following reasons are legitimate to do so: The people at the protest or public gathering believe reporters will be biased (49%); the people at the protest say they have a right to be left alone (48%); and the people at the protest want to tell their own story on the Internet and social media (44%).
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