How many Northern Kentucky University students are aware of the fact that a designated freedom of speech area exists on campus? And just what does a designated freedom of speech area imply?

Any area outside of the designated section does not allow people to participate in the action that is acceptable in the section. What does this say about the area outside of the boundaries of our freedom of speech area, i.e. the rest of campus? Freedom of speech is not allowed in this area, which is most of campus!

This alone should foster discomfort, if not outright anger and disgust. This area sits on a very lovely piece of campus next to the University Center.

The fact that this area isn’t visible to the Lucas Administration building, making any student expressions towards the administration moot, isn’t even the problem any more.

The problem now is that, due to the construction of the new Student Union, part of the area isn’t even accessible to the student body.

The construction of the new Student Union building is estimated to take at least two years. I seem to remember last year the cafeteria in Norse Commons had a problem with their dishwasher that only needed a week to fix. It took more than a semester.

Even one moment without the freedom to voice opinion is too long.

I strongly urge anyone reading this to not support against this attack on the right to stand up and be heard. Our opinions matter. Our money, in tuition and taxes, pays the NKU employees.

We should refuse to be castrated of our capacity for collegiate correction; we don’t have to let our rights be removed. We should be free to express ourselves anywhere on campus just as we are supposed to be able to express ourselves anywhere in the country! Write letters; stage protests; get involved; get informed!

This university mostly includes students with a few administrators with tuition-filled wallets writing the rules.

With freedom of speech reduced to a small area, one that isn’t visible to policy makers or accessible to students, where is the balance between the decisions and the people subjected to those decisions?

Barry Aishton Sophmore Philosophy