What are the key components of the case presented?
The case analyzed focuses on what can be considered “hate speech” among the teaching staff, students, and other stakeholders within an institution of higher education. The case was based on San Diego State University’s diversified community of students and teachers. Key components in this case include words that constitute threatening or intimidating speech, as well as how such situations can be handled, and measures that can be put in place to avoid such occurrences in the learning institutions. The case analyzes statements that can be considered hate speech and those used in light moments. This should be based on the context of the speech and choice of words. It gives a guideline on how intimidating speeches can be managed. It also provides a further directive on how to avoid hate speech and statements that may harm other members of the learning community.
How do you believe the university is attempting to support diversity and multiculturalism on the campus by use of this code or action?
The university has been working with all the relevant stakeholders to support diversity and multiculturalism on campus through various actions. Sporting events are some of the activities the university is using to promote diversity among the students. San Diego State University is also using music festivals to support multiculturalism. During music festivals, people of different cultures get the opportunity to showcase their music or dancing styles to the rest. Such events are followed by a cultural week where students and other members of the university are offered an opportunity to cook their traditional meals and share it with the other guests and participants. These events are meant to demonstrate that although we may come from different backgrounds, we have a lot in common when it comes to cultural practices. The university has also come up with the policies meant to deter attacks on cultural practices of students.
According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, what are some of the criticisms associated with the code?
Regulating speech is very important in protecting the rights of the minority or those who are prone to intimidation from the rest of the community. However, this code has received criticism from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. The main issue is how to classify hate or intimidating speech. It is still not clear whether wordings or context of a speech should be the key in determination of negativity in speech. It is also not clear how to determine the magnitude of a hate speech. Some even argue that it limits freedom of speech (Young, 2014).
How would you suggest the institution address the problems with the speech code yet continue to maintain support for all members of the campus community?
The issue of hate speech cannot be ignored within this institution of higher learning. However, regulation should be done in a way that will ensure support for all the campus community members. Laws and regulations which have been put in place to limit hate speech should not be abolished. However, San Diego State University should develop more programs that will bring together members from different cultural backgrounds. A good way of starting such initiatives is to design a curriculum that encourages teamwork among the learners (Brown, 2009). This can be in form of projects that require teams of more than six people. The students should be encouraged to embrace diversity when selecting team members for such projects. For instance, a lecturer may reject a list of group members where gender or race balance is ignored. This will be a reminder to the students that in our society, we learn to stay as a unit despite our cultural differences in order to achieve success.
References
Brown, W. R. (2009). Doing diversity in higher education: Faculty leaders share challenges and strategies. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
Young, C. (2014). Allegedly Threatening or Intimidating Speech: San Diego State University. Web.