Fraternity Boys Defending their Racist Remarks

Last year two brothers of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Oklahoma were expelled from the university while chanting racist remarks at one of the fraternity events. After this occurred, the University of Oklahoma was ranked in the top 10 list of colleges for free speech. Many people were outraged that the University expelled two of the brothers because they believed that this was a violation of First Amendment rights. After this event occurred, free speech on college campuses was an international concern that completely swept through the nation. 


Freedom of speech is a constitutional amendment that must be upheld by public universities throughout the United States. Private universities are allowed to take away the right of students to protest using freedom of speech, because they are not funded by the government. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) believes that even though private universities state that they will protect students first amendment rights, they often fail to do so. Not only do students find their First Amendment rights violated, professors often do as well. 


Although the University was greatly criticized for making this decision, I also find it very interesting, how the fraternity boys were not. Even though the University did violate the students First Amendment rights, they were screaming racist chants that I found to be extremely offensive. I do believe that students should have the right to protest and speak their minds freely, but I also believe that this is definitely an ethical issue.