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I thought the 'free speech zones' at my school were just a rumor until I tried to hand out flyers.
Last semester, I wanted to gather signatures for a petition about library hours on the main quad. A campus officer approached me and said I had to move to a designated concrete area behind the science building. I checked the student handbook, and sure enough, it's a real policy on page 47. It completely kills spontaneous discussion where students actually gather. Has your campus tried to push people into these zones too?
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mark_ward23d ago
Ugh, that's so frustrating but it doesn't surprise me at all! It feels like the same idea as putting all the public benches in weird spots where no one walks, or those "community bulletin boards" hidden in a basement hallway. They're creating the idea of a place for talk or gathering, but making sure it's where no real, normal life happens. It just boxes up anything messy or spontaneous so the main areas look quiet and controlled. Your story about the quad is the perfect example of how this kills actual student life.
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jamie_webb6723d ago
Exactly, it's all about control under the fake idea of making space. They want to be able to say "look, we gave you a place to talk" but then make sure no one actually uses it in a way that feels real. It just kills any chance for those random, good conversations that actually build a community. Makes the whole place feel dead and managed.
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faith_shah8823d ago
It's just security theater for the administration. They can point to the rule and say they allow free speech, but they've made sure it's useless. What's the point of free speech if no one can hear it?
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