Political debate is at an all-time high in the United States right now. This is not new, but more often than before, there is violence following these heated discussions.
Campus is supposed to be a safe place for students, staff and guests to gain knowledge and be a community. It has become consistent for many on campus to feel a sense of uneasiness when protests or controversial guest speakers come onto university grounds. Some examples of political violence on campus consist of the Gaza War protests that took place at The Ohio State University back in 2023 and 2024 resulting in violent police force, the May 4 shooting here at Kent and most recently, the assassination of Republican media personality Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
When it comes to campus grounds, they are public places that can be used for political speech and protests, but each university has policies that make sure the speech is not an interruption. In the Kent State policy handbook, Chapter 5: Section 23 states that all free speech on campus should have purpose, must be eligible and is clear that certain things may be violations.
These policies are supposed to set a clear expectation for speakers or protestors to follow and explains if they are violated then the law or university has the right to intervene. This is often where law enforcement and opposing opinions clash due to misunderstandings.
“Civility and incivility both have a place in politics because both are part of free political speech,” said Patrick Miller, an associate professor of political science, “While one can certainly want political speech that is open and respectful, there are those who argue that incivility is also valuable in democracy. Of course, that also depends on how you define incivility. Many people define screaming and shouting as uncivil, but you can also say that there could be a place for that in communication in a democracy.”
When you have unclear communication, it creates an argument for both sides.
The end goal for this problem is to allow freedom of speech on universities without it ending in violence.
“If you have a high-profile political person coming to campus, then you do need security. … Sometimes you have to limit numbers at political events because of the size of a room,” said Miller.
By taking Miller’s advice, college campuses can create a safer environment for all involved in these political debates and situations.
The right to freedom of speech should never be debated in America, but creating a safer environment to have that right should be prioritized.
Kyra Logar is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].