Professor Alexander Tsesis Speaks on Campus Freedom of Speech at UWM

Among the most controversial topics of free speech on campus comes the use of safe spaces. These spaces act as buffer zones against hostility for students. Professor Alexander Tsesis believes that in some cases these spaces can be beneficial, but in others, they go to tremendous extremes. For example, he believes that demands by student groups to silence speakers opposing their views is unconstitutional.  

Tsesis is a professor of law at Loyola University, Chicago, where he currently teaches constitutional law, first amendment, civil procedure, and seminars devoted to civil rights issues. He has also written many law review articles, most notably, he has been published in the Columbia Law Review, Cornell Law Review and Minnesota Law Review.

“Safe spaces and trigger warnings often really silence and sensor those whom may disagree,” Tsesis said.

The professor touched on some examples of segregation that these safe spaces cause. A few examples that were mentioned included UCLA students demanding a separate dormitory for black students and racially, sexually and ethnically segregated spaces at Amherst, Clemson and other universities around the U.S.

During his time at UW-Milwaukee on Oct. 4, Professor Tsesis spoke at the physics building lecture hall on the tradeoffs that universities follow dealing with safety and education, balanced with self-expression. The professor brought up current examples like banning certain pieces of literature on campuses, along with safe spaces. His viewpoint on these topics is that it can do more harm than good to the student body.

“The colleges and universities are allowed to demand that these organizations… be open to those with a different point of view,” said Tsesis.

Professor Tsesis explains that even though these safe spaces have been created for certain student groups, anybody is allowed to join and it is unethical to regulate who enters them.

With animosity rising on university campuses throughout the United States, regulations and campus codes on free speech have become more impactful. Professor Tsesis points out that the codes themselves have caused for problems on campus. As a result, Tsesis believes these codes suppress content.

“Rather than using a categorical approach, the more intelligent approach really is to balance this need on campus for safety, for discipline, for maintaining order while at the same time having as free of speech as possible,” said the Professor.   

When asked about the new speech code set by the UW System Board of Regents, Tsesis talked about its purpose and need on university campuses. The code implements a three strike policy for students who have participated in misconduct toward people on campus. The first act of misconduct results in a warning. After the second strike, a student can receive a suspension. After the third misconduct, a student can be expelled. Tsesis interprets the code as protection of ideas especially within a hostile environment. The professor gave the example of protection for speakers like Ben Shapiro on campuses that allows them to speak without interruption or feeling endangered. This code punishes students who partake in actions such as these. However, Tsesis also goes on to state that protesting these speakers is fully within constitutional right.

The interpretation of this speech code stuck out to graduate student and teaching assistant Atinc Gurcay during Professor Tsesis’ speech.

“The policy should have a more clear definition of disruption,” said Atinc. “UW students have a possibility of being expelled if they have been responsible for misconducts three times, therefore this can actually make students anxious about their rights and freedoms on campus.”

Like many other students, Atinc believes that this speech code could prove to be problematic in the future. He believes that because the university is a public entity, there should not be limitations of free speech like this on campus.

Safe spaces and campus codes are not the only topics of discussion surrounding university campuses, students are now fighting to ban certain pieces of literature due to controversial content. From F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, to Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, Tsesis says that critical pieces of literature like these have been challenged by students as inappropriate and harmful.

“The trauma invoked is intrinsic to the experience of reading deep,” said Tsesis. “These demands show little understanding that literature is meant to jar or make people uncomfortable.”

Professor Tsesis believes that these extreme demands to ban critical pieces of literature do not benefit students at all. He believes that this separates students rather than bringing them together. Tsesis goes on to point out that these literature restrictions hinder the teaching ability of professors, making it harder for them to express controversial points of view.