In an effort to understand why freedom of speech is such a controversial topic on college campuses, political satirist Ami Horowitz took to Yale University with a “petition” that called for the repeal of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“I decided to take this campus free speech debate to its logical conclusion,” Horowitz told Fox News. “The result was this unbelievable display of total stupidity.”

“I think it’s really awesome that you’re out here,” one student told Horowitz. “I think this is fantastic, I absolutely agree,” another said.

“Excellent. Love it!”

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do.”

“I totally agree with where you’re at.”

“Thank you for doing this.”

It took Horowitz one hour to get over 50 signatures on the petition. You could call this troubling, and you could call this terrifying, but you could hardly call this surprising.

A recent survey, ironically commissioned by The William F. Buckley Jr. Program at Yale, showed that 35% of students believe that the First Amendment does not protect “hate speech,” while 30% of self-identified liberal students and 10% of self-identified conservative students say the First Amendment is outdated. By a 52-42% margin, students were in favor of forbidding speech from people who have a history of “engaging in hate speech,” while 72% support disciplinary action for “any student or faculty member on campus who uses language that is considered racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise offensive.”

Yale University addresses Freedom of Expression on their website, linking to the Woodward Report, which states:

“We have considered the opposing argument that behavior which violates these social and ethical considerations should be made subject to formal sanctions, and the argument that such behavior entitles others to prevent speech they might regard as offensive. Our conviction that the central purpose of the university is to foster the free access of knowledge compels us to reject both of these arguments. They assert a right to prevent free expression. They rest upon the assumption that speech can be suppressed by anyone who deems it false or offensive. They deny what Justice Holmes termed ”freedom for the thought that we hate.” They make the majority, or any willful minority, the arbiters of truth for all. If expression may be prevented, censored or punished, because of its content or because of the motives attributed to those who promote it, then it is no longer free. It will be subordinated to other values that we believe to be of lower priority in a university.”

The report continues: “The conclusions we draw, then, are these: even when some members of the university community fail to meet their social and ethical responsibilities, the paramount obligation of the university is to protect their right to free expression. This obligation can and should be en­ forced by appropriate formal sanctions. If the university’s overriding commitment to free expression is to be sustained, secondary social and ethical responsibilities must be left to the informal processes of suasion, example, and argument.”

Yale University is one of dozens of campuses where students have organized and compiled formal “demands lists.” Many of these lists include restrictions on speech, revisions to policies related to speech, punishments for speech, on campus and on social media, that are deemed insensitive or offensive.

Liz Finnegan is a soulless ginger with no political leanings. Pun enthusiast. Self-proclaimed “World’s Okayest Person.” Retro gaming contributor for The Escapist.

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