Speech Codes on Campus

Many universities create speech codes to combat the evident discrimination and harassment on campus, especially those that are directed towards a specific minority group. Many believe these speech codes limit peoples' rights to free speech, but I believe some rules and boundaries are necessary in order to maintain a respectful and safe environment for students and visitors. The pictures shown at fraternity parties are very inappropriate and disrespectful. I believe this behavior should be outlawed because it is offensive, inappropriate, deragotary, and may cause violence. This behavior is not an appropriate way to show school spirit and support for a specific fraternity. Passion and support can be expressed in different ways that are more respectful and appropriate. For example, one might wear a shirt of their fraternity's or sell shirts or wrist bands; one can try to recruit others into their fraternity. One needs to be respectful towards themselves, their peers, their mentors, and their community.

Many argue that speech codes restrain them from expressing themselves, but many also oppose this idea and believe they are necessary to keep some sort of order on campus. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) tries to defend and sustain individual rights at colleges and universities. FIRE's core mission is to "protect the unprotected and to educate the public and communities of concerned Americans about the threats to these rights on our campuses," and by doing so one will also learn how to preserve these rights and maintain peace. FIRE therefore, opposes speech codes and the current censorship at campuses. It defends one's rights and freedom of expression. FIRE challenges speech codes, which I find necessary in a school. A school always needs some sort of boundaries because if there are none, many students will take advantage of this and act in uncivil and disrespectful manners. One may use fighting words, express their racist and close-minded views, offend someone and their beleifs, and may express themselves with hatred. FIRE is giving students a type of freedom that is dangerous; they are allowing students to say or do whatever they want because it is their right to do so. FIRE protects this and I believe they shouldn't. There needs to be codes to prevent violence, especially in universities because it is then that students find the need to explore and find the sense of belonging. Restrictions are needed to protect other students and the community.

From the FIRE website, I looked up Illinois State University to see if there are any speech codes or restrictions on expressive rights. There are policies regarding harassment, stating that it is not tolerated, whether it is verbal or physical harassment. I believe this policy is needed because it shows the seriousness of such a crime and will protect students. If students openly express that the values the school believes in are unnecessary and ridiculous, it will not be tolerated. All students must put an effort to follow these values: character, civility, conscience, citizenship, an appreciation of diversity, and individual and social responsibility. I believe the value that is not followed often is the appreciation of diversity. Many fail to do this and focus on harassing those that look different or practice a different culture. Everyone should be accepted for who they are and what culture they believe in. There is also a policy at ISU stating that one must inform the university before hosting an vent where they will be expressing themselves. I find this to be a very reasonable policy becuase it does not restrict students from expressing themselves, but encourages them to do so in a respectful and organized manner. I believe these policies are necessary.

The policies of ISU make me feel more secure. It does not feel as if they are stripping away my right to freedom of speech and expression. I am still able to express myself in an orderly manner, just shouldn't direct it towards a specific person or group of persons. To know that this university cares for their student's safety, makes me want to apply. I know I will not be targeted at the university. I feel as if students respect these codes and try to follow, but there will always be the few that express that they are limiting their freedoms. There will always be the crazy parties with disrespectful behavior, but I just need to make the right decision and leave to show that I do not support the behavior and beliefs they are trying to relay to others. I would not create a scene or uproar regarding the difference between views, but would simply not support them. Although these codes will not be followed 100 percent of the time, they will still provide some protection for other students.

Always Remember 9/11

Nine and eleven were just two numbers to me. They never meant anything special. They only meant that it was my cousin's birthday the next day and my brother's birthday in eleven more days. These numbers didn't mean anything to anyone until 9/11/2001, when terrorists bombed the World Trade Center and the Twin Towers collapsed. People with cameras turned towards the attack and recorded what was happening. With this documentary, I truly learned what this event was and understood its impact on others. It was so powerful because the video recorder was in the towers and outside. I was able to see what was truly going on inside, and how the community was reacting outside the towers. We saw the frustration, confusion, and fear in the firefighters' and pedestrians' eyes. I felt as if I was looking through this lense of the camera. It felt as if I was running from the collapsing towers. As if I was digging and searching for bodies. Walking out of the classroom each day, my happiness was not brilliant. Instead, I felt priveleged to be alive, lucky that  I was not in New York. I respected those who put their own life at risk to save others. I was shocked that such an event occured in America, that people have so much hatred to kill thousands of innocent people. This film opened my eyes and helped me understand what truly occured at ground zero and what 9/11 was and why we take the time to remember those that passed, those that survived, and those that became heroes that day.

After reading the articles, I again got another perspective of 9/11. I got a new meaning of what it truly means to be a survivor and a victim. An article stated, "All Americans are peripheral survivors, in that we were all traumatized by the events of that day and had our lives impacted and changed by their fallout." I had never thought of myself as a survivor. I always thought that those at the site were survivors, but after reading this article I do agree to some extent. We were all taken by surprise by the event and impacted in some way, no matter how far we lived from the actual Twin Towers. All of America was affected; security tightened, paranoia was more evident among people, fear replaced the sense of safety, peace turned into slight chaos, saddness replaced the happiness, tears replaced smiles, families tore apart, friends went missing, 9/11 was the mark of a sad day with more to follow. Therefore, we are all considered survivors. Even to this day people are struggling, especially from sicknesses due to the toxins that were exposed. Many families struggle financially to help their loved ones that have been affected by the toxins. They wonder why they were punished for helping the country and risking their own life. People believe it is the rest of America's "moral obligation to provide our 9/11 heroes with all the care they need." We only owe it to them. . .

I was in first grade the day this occured. I was innocent and too young to understand or care. I never really grasped what had happened until recently. I knew what happened that day, but it never occured to me that it did in a way impact me, I just never noticed. I'm not one to rethink entering a plane; I don't question a loud airplane; I don't question the amount of security we have today; I don't discriminate and judge others because they are Muslim, black, Asian, or gay, etc. I feel as if I grew up with this security. I don't remember any change. In a way, it saddens me that I don't remember this day, but at the same time I am glad my parents kept didn't go in depth while explaining. It saddens me to not feel something personal or remember the day because I want to honor those that saved lives,  I want to give my respect and remember. Remembering is what I struggle with. But when I saw the film, I lived through 9/11. It gave me a new and better understanding of what this day was. It opened my eyes to the world. It showed me that I am not always safe. From now on, every year, I will remember this day and  I will pray.

Students' Right to Free Speech

The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." I reitterate, shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. . .

The justice system in America tries to maintain justice and equality to keep the existing peace. It is their duty to interpret the Constitution, enforce laws, and punish those who disobey the laws. A common topic of interest in law is one's freedom of speech. People question how much freedom they have and what they are and aren't allowed to say. There have been many disputes regarding this, starting with the Tinker v. Des Moines case. In this case, Mary Beth Tinker chose to disobey a rule the school had enforced stating that they were not allowed to wear armbands showing any sort of affiliation. Tinker, beleiving this was unfair, chose to continue wearing the armband to show her opposition towards the Vietnam War. When the dispute was brought to court the judge concluded that there was no clear disruption or danger to other students, therefore she should not have been punished because it was her free right to speech.

The Tinker case was one of the first cases to deal with freedom of speech and as the years passed, the court concluded that people lose this right when they impose danger or disrupt the surrounding peace. Tinker was not doing either of those, but simply trying to show her opposition with a wristband. She was not verbally expressing herself in a manner that was immature or inappropriate. She was using symbolic speech by wearing this armband. She was not using "fighting words" or causing "distress or violence." Tinker had the right to express herself freely.

Once again, the question comes up: what is covered under one's right to free speech? I believe individuals have every right to express themselves, but that they do so in a mature and appropriate way. People can make a point and send a message without using vulgar language and violence, or disrupting peace. But when one does not follow these guidelines, it is the court's duty to punish him or her. In America, people have been raised to respect one another and themselves, yet people still fail to express themselves in a respectful manner.

Parliament of the Youth - Βουλή τών Εφήβων 2011

The last day at the Parliament-all 300 members

On Wednesday, September 7th, 2011, I had my first day of school as a senior at Deerfield High School. I missed school to be in Greece and participate in the Parliament of Youth Program. To enter into this program, I entered into an optional, world-wide, Greek essay competition through the Greek school I attend on Saturdays. Of the 12,000 students who entered into this competition, 300 students were selected: 260 from Greece, 20 from Cyprus, and 20 from the Hellenic diaspora. I was one of the two representatives from the USA. Being chosen, the Hellenic Parliament sponsored my trip to Greece to participate in their Parliament of Youth Program where I presented my opinion and voted on the government's bills.

This program acted as a simulation of the Greek Parliament and allowed us to discuss the challenges that encompass us in front of other youth representatives, committee members, and government officials. The Greek Parliament is split into five committees, just as we were: 1) cultural affairs,  2) defense and foreign affairs, 3) economic affairs, production, and trade, 4) social affairs, and 5) public administration, public order, and justice. I was in the cultural affairs committee and discussed the combat against violence at athletic events in Greece, while other committees discussed the modern provisions of Greek citizenship, the acceleration of growth of renewable sources of energy, the application of equal treatment of men and women on issues regarding work and employment, and the penal provisions, therapeutic, and safety measures regarding narcotic substances.

The President of the Parliament in Greece

The second day of the program, my committee went to the Parliament of Greece where we expressed ourselves regarding the combat against violence at athletic events. Many members of the program took the opportunity to speak in front of the Prime Minister of Greece, the President of the Parliament, Committee members, a famous author, and our fellow youth parliament members and friends. Upon entering the Parliament, I had decided I would not speak due to my fear of public speaking, especially in Greek. However, as people were called up to speak, my viewpoint slowly changed and I quickly prepared a speech in Greek. I went up to the podium, before all the present important figures and friends, and expressed that the bill should be enforced to improve the safety and save lives. While speaking, I represented Chicago, most importantly America, and shared how different life is here and in Greece; there are no major issues regarding violence at athletic games in America because of how we are raised. We are raised to be responsible and respectful towards ourselves, our peers, adults, the community, the government, and our nation. We are hard-working and determined, which helps us pursue anything we believe. My insight varied from almost all of my friends and fellow youth members because I live outside of Greece. I helped open other peoples' eyes and mind to the world and I thank other Greeks for enlightening me.

Half the members of my committee

On the last day of the program, all 300 members went to the Parliament to share their opinions on each issue that each committee was assigned. Fourteen members spoke, four being international. After everyone spoke, we voted on each bill that was made. The President of the Parliament thanked us for our insight on each bill and we thanked him for giving us this opportunity to express ourselves and participate in the Parliament of the Youth Program. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget. I learned how the Greek Government works and how bills become laws.

Participating in this program reminded me how important it is to keep my Greek heritage close to me. I met 19 other members that live outside of Greece, just like me. There were members from Canada, New York, South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Alexandria, Scotland, Australia, Germany, Congo, and Belgium. This showed me that despite all our differences and distance from eachother, we all have one similarity: our Hellenic descent. We are all proud to be Greek and find it vital to spread our Greek culture to future generations so it will never die off. Greece had the first famous philosophers and the first functional democracy. Greece can be considered the roots of other countries' growth. Therefore I feel that it is necessary that I continue to keep my Greek heritage.

To the new friends I made at the Parliament of the Youth: I could not have shared this experience with anyone better. The four days we spent together were some of the most memorable days of my life. I hope you have a successful year in school--stay determined and hard-working, but most importantly have fun. Good luck in college, I hope to be re-united with you next summer.