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First Amendment

The open exchange of ideas is the foundation of a great university. Universities are places for discourse, debate and learning from different views, experiences, and knowledge of other people.

What is freedom of speech and what does it protect?

Freedom of speech is essential to a strong democracy. The First Amendment generally prevents the government – which includes CSU as a public university – from controlling what people say or limiting their expression.

The First Amendment guarantees your right to speak and express yourself. It gives you power to control what you think and freedom to say what you want.

The First Amendment does not, however, give you the right to control what other people think or say, or limit their expression. It doesn’t guarantee that other people have to listen or agree with you, and it doesn’t give anyone the right to silence the free speech rights of others through threats, intimidation or violence.

Other people also have the right to speak their ideas and debate your ideas, or just to ignore you.

Universities are places for the exchange of ideas, discourse, and debate – learning from the different views, experiences, and knowledge of other people, including those who disagree. So it’s important to know the rules and responsibilities that go along with your rights.

CSU Pueblo speech-related policies

What is speech?

Expression of ideas, perspectives and values
Peaceful protests or demonstrations
Clothing
Posters or flyers
Refraining from speaking

See more about the First Amendment at the CSU System.

Your Voice

Your voice has power, and you can use it to have an impact on your world and the issues that matter to you. Most speech is protected, some is not – knowing the difference and what you can do gives you power to make your voice heard.

Use your voice:

Use social media to express your views
Talk with friends and classmates
Organize a petition drive
Email or phone your local, state, or federal representatives
Join a peaceful gathering or protest
Write a letter to the editor
Find a club that’s focused on an issue you care about – or create one
Volunteer with local, regional, or national civic groups that address issues you care about
Get involved with ASG, your student government, or your faculty or staff councils
Write your university president or other leaders
Vote!

First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

“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.”

It’s important to:

Educate yourself about the issues, both pro and con
Consider your own arguments through a critical lens
Listen
Set and be respectful of your own boundaries and the boundaries of others
Get out of your comfort zone and get into the learning zone by considering perspectives and arguments that contradict your own
Prioritize your well-being, particularly when pushing your comfort zones
Remember that we all come from varying experiences and backgrounds, which shape our perspectives in different ways
Learn the difference between dialogue and debate
Remember that freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences
Keep in mind that criminal threats and harassment of individuals, as well as violence, are not protected speech
Recognize that the First Amendment protects your right to express yourself AND it equally protects the rights of others to express themselves, even if you strongly disagree with their speech