• Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
The Volante
The Volante
  • Home
  • Campus
    • Academics
    • Greek Life
    • SGA
    • Student Life
  • State/Local
    • Around Town
    • Board of Regents
    • National
    • Pierre
    • Vermillion City Council
    • Vermillion Police Department
  • Sports
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Men’s Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Swimming/Diving
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    • Women’s Basketball
  • Verve
    • Feature
    • Diversity
    • Events
    • CAB
    • The Vault
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
Safe spaces disrupt the First AmendmentOpinion
Home
Opinion

Safe spaces disrupt the First Amendment

September 19th, 2016 Ryne Myers Opinion comments

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

USD prides itself on supporting the First Amendment, words of which are proudly displayed on the front of the Al Neuharth Media Center.

While USD supports freedom of speech unquestionably, I can’t fathom how college campuses across the country are creating designated, little spots to avoid offending others. These areas are considered safe spaces, tabooing certain triggering words and phrases in its enclosed area. In reality, a safe space should be called a “feelings circle.”

College students who are pushing for a feelings circle seem to choose hearing potentially controversial words over receiving a quality education and utilizing free speech. Everything in college is about having different opinions and debates. It’s how we best learn other perspectives and figure out our own. But safe spaces infringe upon these benefits.

I grew up a few hours from Columbia, Missouri, where The University of Missouri is located. During my senior year, they had “the uprising.” Ironically, a school group I was in took a trip to MU, and they have a “free speech zone” on campus where everyone has free speech. Last year, Mizzou saw major repercussions after implementing safe spaces. According to some news outlets, the backlash from students even became violent.

As a journalism student who considered going to MU, I didn’t even bother applying after the safe space drama. In fact, my fellow peers that ended up attending MU got emails saying that the staff hoped they had not changed their minds on the school. What would my future employers think of me if they were to see “University of Missouri 2020” on my application? Would they think I was fighting for a feelings circle, or would they know I think it’s a big joke to have a safe space?

At USD, we are fortunate enough to have free speech. We have the privilege of living in America, where we can virtually say whatever we want to say. People today probably don’t fully understand that generations of men and women had to fight and die for us to keep that right.

These amazingly selfless military veterans die for us, and yet college students and faculty across the country create a feelings circle so they don’t upset anybody. I’m sure these soldiers didn’t enjoy being in a war zone, millions of miles away from their families, but they didn’t want a feelings circle. Also, the safe zone is completely against the First Amendment, taking someone’s rights away because another person can’t handle unfiltered conversation.

For those who can’t stand to hear the differing opinions around them, they will remain ignorant and stubborn in their ways, theoretically sticking their fingers in their ears to block out the world’s daily dialogue.

They limit themselves when they never become exposed to new ideas and perspectives that could potentially sound controversial. Avoiding the uncomfortable will ultimately be more harmful to not just those affected, but everybody. Real life is not filtered.

Share this story

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Ryne Myers

USD freshman majoring in Media and Journalism. Avid Chicago Cubs fan and proud Missourian.

Related Posts

Amendment A should be a must-watch decision for South Dakotans Opinion
February 23rd, 2021

Amendment A should be a must-watch decision for South Dakotans

Two plus two equals tears Opinion
February 22nd, 2021

Two plus two equals tears

Getting rid of your phone addiction Opinion
February 18th, 2021

Getting rid of your phone addiction

Facebook Comments

Latest Stories

Feb 24th 2:49 PM
Sports

Women’s basketball win over Oral Roberts with 21-point advantage

Feb 24th 2:44 PM
Campus

USD Uniting Students Through Athletics

Feb 24th 2:40 PM
Campus

VHS gears up for spring athletics

Feb 24th 2:38 PM
Sports

A.J. Plitzuweit makes two free throws for win against Oral Roberts

Feb 24th 2:34 PM
Campus

Coyotes sweep NDSU over weekend series

Feb 24th 2:28 PM
Sports

Training in it so they can play in it

Feb 24th 2:12 PM
Sports

Volleyball decides to keep masks off the court

Feb 23rd 9:50 PM
Campus

SGA hosts deputy athletic director

Feb 23rd 2:10 PM
Opinion

Amendment A should be a must-watch decision for South Dakotans

Feb 23rd 1:57 PM
Verve

AWOL offers alternative spring break to students

Weather

Coyote News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7ERfZmFOg

Advertisement

  • Home
  • Campus
  • State/Local
  • Sports
  • Verve
  • Opinion
  • E-Edition
  • COVID-19
  • Back to top

The Volante

The Volante is the University of South Dakota’s independent student-run newspaper since 1887. Al Neuharth Media Center The Volante 555 N. Dakota Street Vermillion, SD 57069

Advertisement

About

  • About
  • Code of Ethics
  • History
  • Awards
  • Executive Staff
  • Jobs
  • Comment Policy
  • Advertise

Engage

  • Letters to the Editor
  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Overheard
  • Subscribe
  • Submit News Tips

Media Partners

  • Coyote News
  • KAOR 91.1
  • Media & Journalism Department
© The Volante 2015. All rights reserved.