Speak Your Mind; It's Your Right
             Have you ever wanted to say something, but feared that the consequences of your words might be too great? Or, have you ever had to tell someone to watch their language because they might be offending other people? What if the leader of a white supremacist group, like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), was giving a speech, would you tell them to watch their language or think that they are wrong for speaking their mind? There is really nothing that can be done to stop anyone from expressing him or herself verbally. Sure, there will be consequences for their actions, for example: riots, fights, etc, but nevertheless, people can speak their minds wherever and whenever they want. Hate speech is defined as the contemporary means by which the majority subjugates minorities (unt.edu). Hate speech is a topic of issue for many people and right's activist groups also. There are those who oppose hate speech, while others defend it, since hate speech is protected by the first amendment. The controversy of hate speech has resulted in the establishment of speech codes. These speech codes were put in place to prevent fighting words, but most universities went beyond preventing fighting words. Some examples of these speech codes adopted by universities are: inappropriate jokes and inappropriately directed laughter, idle chatter of a sexual nature, gestures that are expressive of an idea, opinion, or emotion, and any inappropriate displays of sexually suggestive objects or pictures (which may include but are not limited to posters, pinups, and calendars); just to name a few (Alan C. Kors). Universities that adopted these speech codes across the country include: the University of Maryland, Brown University, the University of Connecticut, and Rutgers University. These speech codes however, are a violation of the Constitution, restrict people from expressing their thoughts to the fullest, and are being illega...