After reading Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s evaluation of free speech codes at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, I can say that these two schools are evaluated based on their policies concerning free speech. Since these two institutions have different free speech policies, they are given different speech code ratings by Foundation for Individual Rights in Education(FIRE). These ratings are represented by traffic lights; red, yellow, and green and they inform about FIRE’s opinion of what extend free speech is limited at an institution. FIRE has given the speech code rating Yellow to the University of Oklahoma. According to FIRE, Yellow light means an institution where at least one policy can possibly limit the freedom of expression because of its unclear wording. For example, one of the Yellow light policies of OU is “Community Living Guide: Room Decorations” under the speech code category of Posting and Distribution …show more content…
It means that OSU has a minimum of one policy that both clearly and substantially limits freedom of speech. For example one of the policies of OSU that is considered Red light policy is “Residence Life Handbook: Compliance” under the category of Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility. This policy says that it will not to tolerated if someone is not cooperative with staff or use abusive language to staff. I believe this policy undoubtfully restrict the freedom of speech because it does not give any contexts or situations when this policy should be applied, rather it seems like it is applied in all cases. It cannot be guaranteed that everything the staff is doing is right, so it impossible for the students to cooperate with all their actions, and if someone does not cooperate with the staff then they are violating the policy, thus it can be said that this policy is snatching the freedom of speech from the