Whether it be standing up for equal rights or protesting sweatshop conditions,
CMU students are exercising their First Amendment right to assembly both
on and off campus.

Students should take advantage of the freedom that living in the United
States brings and make their voices heard on such issues as gender and
race equality, as well as sexual orientation and other issues of diversity.

As part of the university’s "Speaking Freely in America" series,
issues of censorship, free expression in art and hate speech have been
featured in months past. And in the next couple of weeks, two final topics
will be presented, ranging from civility and free speech on campuses to
the deadly sins of journalism.

The first, "Free Speech and Civility on Campus," will take
place at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the recital hall of the music building, with
guest speaker, University of Michigan President Lee Bollinger. The second
and final speech, "Journalism’s 3 Deadly Sins," will take place
at 8 p.m. April 7 in Warriner Auditorium, with speaker Peter Prichard,
president of the Freedom Forum and former editor of USA Today.

Students should take note of both events and plan to attend to learn
more about the importance of free speech in action.

The atmosphere created on a college campus is unlike that of any other
place and offers a plenitude of opportunities for students to express
their opinions on issues and exercise their First Amendment rights to
free speech.

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