Students discuss free speech area near SUB

Students stand outside in the free speech area between the library and Student Union Building to express their First Amendment rights.

An article on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education website stated that the free speech zones on the Texas Tech University’s campus were limited to the 20-foot-wide gazebo outside the SUB in 2004.

As groups fought for a bigger free speech area, students have seen the area expand to the whole walkway between the SUB and the library over the years.

Ashley Villegas, a senior chemical engineering major, said she stands in the free speech area often to give students the God Test. The test asks believers and non-believers about what they think about God.

Villegas said students know what the free speech area is and where it is located.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to engage the campus and talk to students,” Villegas said.

She said it is a good location in the university because so many students walk to and from classes. Villegas said she loves getting to talk to new people everyday.

Mark Nyakundi, a freshman political science major, said he comes to the free speech area as a member of the Black Student Association to spread the word about the organization.

He said it means a lot that so many people are willing to stop and talk to others or buy something to help different organizations.

“If we didn’t have this area to talk to students while they pass through to classes, then we wouldn’t be able to communicate with the everyday student,” Nyakundi said.

Aiden Beckert is a member of the Gender and Sexuality Association. He said GSA enjoys going out to the free speech area to promote the organization.

He said it is a good place for organizations to promote themselves because students might not have learned about them and gotten involved.

An article on the First Amendment Center website explained that many college campuses have tried to seclude their free speech zones.

Aside from other campuses, Beckert said everyone who goes out to the free speech area to promote something will get a lot of exposure. He said it is a central location for campus.

“It’s one of the highest traffic areas on campus,” Beckert said.

He said that for many, the free speech area allows people to spread awareness to students, and that GSA likes to speak about things that are not addressed in the media.

“I think it’s really important that we have an area called free speech because it allows everyone to be able to voice things that maybe people wouldn’t have access to otherwise,” Beckert said.

On the web:

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education –

https://www.thefire.org/texas-techs-free-speech-zones-are-unconstitutional-judge-rules/

https://www.thefire.org/campus-rights/

First Amendment Center –

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/free-speech-zones/ter –