Speech Codes on Campus

After seeing those pictures, I had to wonder what those guys were thinking. Yeah, it's just a joke and they might not mean to offend people, but how could that not offend someone. I bet their parents were really happy and proud when they saw the pictures of their sons mocking different races, and getting in trouble with the school. The only thing that they accomplished was making their frat look horrible. Did they think that kids would want to join their frat if they have to dress up like slaves and wear black face? I'm sure they regret what they did, but there is no excuse for their actions. I think this behavior should be banned, but It doesn't seem realistic to be able to control this. Frats are always going to have parties, and chances are a couple of them will get out of hand. It would be extremely difficult for a campus to police this type of behavior.
I choose to look at Indiana University. I liked their speech code because it allows people their rights but it also restricts hateful and harassing speech. Indiana got a yellow rating which isn't the best, but I noticed that a ton of schools on FIRE have red ratings. I looked through schools in about 7 states, and did not see one green rating. So, Indiana is doing much better than most other schools. The main goal for a University's speech code it too make sure students feel comfortable, and are in an environment that they can learn in, and I believe that Indiana does a good job of this. I believe that Indiana would give the same punishment that Auburn gave to those students who took part in the party.

As we get closer and closer to college, speech codes get bigger and bigger. Schools all over the place are going to learn from mistakes made by students, so that they can try and assure that inappropriate behavior does not over run the school. It is good to have regulations, but as long as they do not limit someones right to free speech. Nothing is bigger than America, and everyone has to respect the first amendment rights, even if you don't agree with what is being said. People will always have different opinions, and people have to learn from others.

Man in the Red Bandanna

Throughout the last week or so Americans have been remembering those lost in the 9/11 attacks. In school and out of school I have heard new stories of people's experiences on the the attacks. One that I most recently saw was the story of a young man by the name of Welles Crowther. A truly amazing story The video I saw on ESPN talks about the kind of person Welles was, and what he did during the last hour of his life. Welles was a lacrosse player for Boston College, always wearing his lucky red bandanna. After graduating from Boston College, he took a job in New York. He worked for a company and was at the 104th floor of the World Trade Center. Welles was a junior fire fighter for the town he grew up in. When the plane struck his building, Welles, wearing a red bandanna, was the one who helped everyone escape down the stairs. After leading the first party of people, Welles yelled out that he was going to go back up and try to help anyone else that he could. As a women recalls what went on, a young man ran up from the stair case and running around helping others and putting out fires. The tower collapsed with Welles in it. It is estimated that he saved as many as 12 people in the building. This video is one of the greatest tributes I have ever seen. It's a story not many know, but after seeing it, it is one that I want everyone to know. The parents of Welles make the video hard to watch, especially towards the end. He risked his life to save others, then went back and gave his life saving more people. It is hard to know for certain, but I would like to think that I could be as courageous as Welles Crowther was.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6929979

9/11

The video that we have been watching in class has been tough to watch. At the time of the attacks I did not really understand what was going on, but now it really hits home. This is the best documentary I have ever seen. You really get a sense of what was going on that day. The fear that everyone had running up and down the streets of downtown New York. The bravery that all of the firefighters, police officers, and everyone else who responded to the call. All of those firefighters who were Tower 1 were absolutely crazy, and thank God for that. They helped a ton of people during a time of complete chaos. I could not be happier for that squad to have had all of their firefighters return home, but other squads were not a lucky. They were able to see their friends and family, when others rushed into the buildings and were never able to come out. The film really gives you a first hand look of what those people will do for us, which is very comforting.

I read about the rebirth of downtown New York 10 years after 9/11. It is good to hear the downtown Manhattan is finally almost back to where it was 10 years ago, but I don't think people will ever feel the same way they used to before the attacks. There will always be a damper on the part of town, but people already realize that. To me, it is worth $24 billion dollars to rebuild that area, because if that is what it takes to get peoples mind off of what happened there in 2001, it is worth it. We will never forget the people who lost their lives there, but we still have to live our lives. I'm sure it is hard for people to work near that environment, and rebuilding it should help. The rebirth is a good way to get peoples mind off of reliving that terrible day. The rebirth for downtown Manhattan is good for the rebirth of the United States of America.

Today was very sad to wake up and realize that it has been 10 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The first thing i thought to myself when I woke up was how I couldn't believe it had been 10 years. It was weird to think about. When I was outside that morning, there were two planes that flew above me, and both times I looked up to the sky, something I rarely do. The attacks really get to you. It is hard to even think about how someone could fly a plane into a building full of Innocent people that they have never even met, for a cause that to many, doesn't make sense. It's hard to wrap your head around that concept. Though it is sad to say, but awful things like this happen just about everyday in other countries. Innocent people have their lives taken away, and many people in America don't even know it's going on. I love my country like no other, but I think it's a shame that we value American blood more than every other countries blood. Innocent lives are taken everyday, and on 9/11 it happened to be American blood. I will never forget those people that died in those terrorist attacks, and anyone else that has died and will die for America, and I thank everyone that protects this great nation. I am proud to be an American, and no one can ever take that away from me.

In the past few days we have been discussing the issue of free speech in a school environment. We have seen multiple cases of children who believe that their rights were violated by their school and facility. To a certain extent, high schoolers should have their freedom of speech. I believe some kids are going to abuse the freedom they are given, but most students will follow the rules. There are some things that I think are ridiculous, especially at DHS. I do not agree with kids not being able to wear clothes that promote alcohol. I think administrates have to realize we are not wearing these shirts to seem cool, it's just a shirt. The thing that is tough about students freedom of speech, is that people don't really know where to draw the line. Someone might get away with something one day, and the next day someone else doing the same thing could get in trouble. It is hard to judge how much freedom a student can have in school. In the case of Morris v. Fredrick I agree with the schools decision to suspend the student. "Bong hits for Jesus," is not an example of a students freedom of speech being revoked. He was trying to get a rise out of people in my opinion.

Last year, during the pep rally, a friend of mine who was a senior was wearing a black bandanna much like many of his fellow senior class mates. He got the bandanna in Mexico, and on the side of it was a little advertisement for Corona. He was on his way to the pep rally when a someone from the school told him to take it off. Of course he did not like the ruling, first of all because the advertisement was so small, and because he didn't even realize it was on there. I am on the side of the student in this case, because it was not like the kid was wearing a shirt that said, "YOU SHOULD DRINK BEER!" It was merely a black bandanna that had the name of one company on it, and a small advertisement that said sponsored by Corona. The bandanna certainly didn't hurt anyone, or cause a controversy until he was told to take it off. I think there are some situations much like the one I just explained, that people need to just calm down about and not make such a big deal.