THYRIE BLAND

TBLAND@NEWS-PRESS.COM

Vanessa Rivera doesn't want the proliferation of safe spaces at universities across the country to stifle free speech.

Rivera, president of the Network of enlightened Women chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University, spent a day last week advocating for the First Amendment and getting involved in a national debate about safe spaces on college campuses. She and other members of the Network of enlightened Women or NeW, a conservative women's organization at colleges across the country, asked FGCU students to write whatever they wanted on a giant beach ball.

"The idea comes from us seeing that a lot of college campuses are starting to try to take away the rights of students when it comes to the First Amendment and limiting them to safe spaces," said Rivera, 21, a senior at FGCU.

"We believe that the rights of students and just the American people shouldn't be limited to a space. This is America and a common public space should be treated as a common public space where people can express their opinions and values."

The term safe space can mean different things and has caused quite a bit of controversy in the world of higher education the past few years.

"We want people to be able to feel comfortable speaking about what they believe in within, obviously, the limitations of the First Amendment," said Sophie Studer, 19, vice president of FGCU's NeW chapter. "With safe spaces and things like that ..., we believe that people need a platform to be able to speak freely and not be judged by what they're saying."

For some, the term refers to spaces where hate speech against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is not tolerated. For others, it is where marginalized groups can meet and discuss common experiences. In 2015 at the University of Missouri, protesters tried to keep media out of an area where they had gathered on campus, calling it their safe space.

A big debate on some college campuses these days is whether speakers with ideas that make students feel uncomfortable should be allowed to talk at the schools. In August, John Ellison, dean of students at the University of Chicago, wrote a letter to incoming students, rejecting intellectual safe spaces.

"Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own," the letter said.

Free speech can hurt but still vital

'Diversity of ideas'

At FGCU, a free discourse of ideas is encouraged, but a regulation sets parameters to ensure the school's normal operations aren't interrupted, said Susan Evans, chief of staff.

She said a group of protesters wouldn't be allowed to scream outside a building where classes are being held, but there are other areas of campus where protesters could shout.

Evans said FGCU is committed to diversity, including a diversity of ideas. She said students are encouraged to hear different points of view during their college experience.

"Diversity of ideas that's very important on a university campus and so is an environment or atmosphere of respect," Evans said. "Different people may disagree on views and viewpoints, but hopefully, some understanding can come when people are exposed and introduced to differing points of view."

Rowan Collins, the education coordinator at the Rochester, New York-based Gay Alliance, said at a conference he recently attended, there was a discussion about free speech, hate speech and a student-led protest at the University of California at Davis. Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor at Breitbart News, a far-right website, was one of two people invited to speak at the school, but the event was canceled after students showed up to protest.

Collins said he thinks the concerns some people have when certain speakers are invited to colleges and other places may go beyond just not agreeing with the speakers.

"They might even be thinking what this person is saying is harmful to my existence, and the message that this person is pushing through is dangerous," Collins said. And if people get to hear this enough then my life could be at risk, my community could be in jeopardy more than it already is. So I think there is definitely some valid arguments to what's been going on."

First Amendment Foundation watchdog over government

Students plan to bring ball back to campus

Last week at FGCU, students wrote varying messages on the green, orange, white, blue and red beach ball. Here are some examples:

"Let your voice be heard."

"Black lives matter."

If you like Trump that's cool. If you don't like Trump that's cool too.

"Love all."

"Respect the flag and the pledge."

FGCU freshman Rachel Barrow, 18, was among the students who wrote on the ball.

"I feel like it's a good idea to present to the students to be able to say, 'You can speak your mind. You don't have to hold back,'" she said. "But do it in a manner that is kind to people. You don't have to be mean about speaking your mind."

Rivera said she was impressed by the messages students wrote on the ball, noting that most of them were positive.

"We thought people would really take advantage of it and express some different values," Rivera said.

She said she plans to keep the ball and likely will ask students to write on it again in the future.

"We want to have that beach ball completely covered with free speech statements and opinions," Rivera said.

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