University of California President Janet Napolitano recently announced the opening of a free speech center in Washington D.C.
The goal of The National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement is to develop a “concerted educational, research and advocacy effort” for the purpose of upholding free speech on campus.
UC Office of the President recently released a statement, confirming that it has been a “turbulent” time for free speech on college campuses.
“The issue of free speech has roiled colleges and universities nationwide, including UC campuses, with incidents of violence, intolerance, and attempted speech suppression,” the statement reads in part.
The hope is that The National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement at the UC Washington Center will aid in upholding First Amendment freedoms on campus. However, not everyone is convinced that the UC has honorable intentions behind the opening of the center – especially because the school system has repeatedly shut down conservative campus events and placed restrictions and security fees upon conservative speakers whose events are allowed to take place.
Ariana Rowlands, president of California College Republicans, believes that the opening of the center is purely a publicity stunt.
“They’re only creating this Free Speech Center because it’s finally hit them that they have a serious public relations problem surrounding free speech,” Rowlands told the Washington Examiner. “This symbolic action of creating a free speech center, a building most UC students will probably never go to or even acknowledge its existence, does nothing to solve the practical problem faced by conservative students on all of the UC Campuses – actions do.”
Dominick DiCesare, former President of UC Santa Barbara Young Americans for Liberty, shares Rowland’s skepticism, calling the center an “empty gesture from aging politicians.”
“We shouldn’t need something like this,” DiCesare told The Bottom Line. “It’s written into the Constitution that our rights to freedom of speech shall not be infringed.”
Aubree Poole is a contributor for Red Alert Politics who enjoys traveling and composing music
