Navigating the Toxic Debate: Students Leading the Way in Free Speech

The author, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the challenges surrounding free speech on college campuses and the need for better speech education. She argues that colleges and universities should provide students with the tools to navigate complex speech issues themselves, rather than relying solely on campus bylaws. The author highlights the shifting dynamics of free speech politics, with the left and right both grappling with defining the boundaries of acceptable speech. She emphasizes the importance of fostering a speech culture that encourages respectful dialogue and the exploration of diverse perspectives, while also acknowledging the need for some informal rules to maintain productive conversations. Ultimately, the author believes that universities should train students to think critically about speech principles and allow them to work through these issues in practice.