This public property is your public property. This public property is my public property.
By Alexis Schlesinger
Opinion Editor
Most of the “outside organizations” coming into your college community spaces don’t truly stand for what they believe in. Or much of anything at all. They do have feelings, and beliefs, but they don’t stand strong for either. As soon as someone disagrees with them or hurts their feelings, they are your mother and your friend just stepped on a crack in the sidewalk. They fold, spineless, and resort to aggression. They turn to insults, slurs, expletives, and in some cases, physical escalation. They are quick to forget themselves and what they stand for, their mission, or the “real” reason they are coming into your community spaces. There is no solid ground on which they stand but what is physically beneath their feet - the concrete, upon which their boots rest. In the United States, college campuses - especially public universities - are a popular target for self-proclaimed political organizations. You’ve seen them, whether on your own campus, or another. Small groups of typically 2-4 people. Sometimes, they’ve got a table with pamphlets, papers, pins, or petitions. Some carry large signs with graphic imagery or provocative language. Many of them carry cameras. If they are on public property, they are well within their rights to be there. They know it, and they will make sure you know it, too. A seemingly popular topic amongst these campus visitors is free speech, and their right to use it. In the past two weeks, three outside organizations have visited Framingham State University. The three groups seemingly acted independently of each other, but all had a common fixation. They all displayed an extreme fascination with free speech, and the protections it has in the United States. Not only are they fascinated by their protection under the First Amendment, but they also become greatly excited in exercising this protection to its full extent. Their behavior is reminiscent of a 7-year-old’s trip to the frozen yogurt shop. How many pieces of candy can I add before mom gets mad at me? How much, until the cup becomes too heavy? They are gluttonously attracted to the weight their words hold to you. These people, and many more like them, are infiltrating college community spaces. While in these spaces, they are calling students slurs and expletives. They are shouting, yelling, and hurling insults. Those who have found their way onto my campus have told members of my community they should be deported. They have called members of my community demons, homophobic slurs, baby killers - and the list continues. While they are unfortunately - and undeniably - legally within their right to speak to us this way, this language and treatment of our community members is unacceptable. Community members of Framingham State University were assured via email that members of our community should not feel obligated to engage with members of outside organizations visiting campus. We were asked, if we are to engage, that we do so peacefully and respectfully. I wholeheartedly agree that you should not feel obligated to engage with these people, and if you decide to, you should do so peacefully and respectfully. If you feel safe enough, I urge you to engage. In doing so, it is important that you remember this - peaceful and respectful does not have to mean quiet and patient. As students, we are required to follow a student code of conduct. These visitors are not bound to our code of conduct, because they are not enrolled at our University. Framingham State University’s student code of conduct can be found on the Ram Handbook website at ramhandbook.com. If you are a student, I recommend reading your university’s student code of conduct before choosing how you engage with non-community members who are disrupting or disturbing your community space. Or anyone, for that matter. It is not a violation of the law, or our student code of conduct to be - for lack of a better word - a pain in the ass. Your public sidewalk is my public sidewalk, too.
