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As institutes of knowledge accommodating differing perspectives, college campuses are also popular stages for students to exercise their First Amendment rights. The U.S. has observed this throughout time. Kent State University, for example, made headlines in 1970 after the National Guard violently intervened in a student rally sparked by the decision of then President Nixon to invade Cambodia.

In 2010, students of Washington’s Clark College spoke up in backlash against a college administration that refused to take action for a flier that read “White and Proud”

Recently, California has seen a series of protests, partly due to funding cuts for education. University students in particular have mobilized to protest cuts made to education as well as fight for the quality of education.

We can proudly say that PCC is no different. Students have not only organized rallies but have been steadfast in attending Board of Trustees meetings and speaking during public comment. Student representatives from PCC also attended the Los Angeles May Day rally.

With that being said, it is without a doubt that the Time, Place, and Manner policy would come as a shock to students hearing it for the first time. These restrictions on free speech were not strictly enforced in previous rallies, so why are they being brought up now?

With the many differing perspectives on campus – whether it is for budget cuts, same-sex marriage, or abortions – PCC must protect freedom of speech so that students can freely express their beliefs but also conduct peaceful dialogue, even if it is opposition.

Understandably, crowding the steps of the C Building is, indeed, something to worry about. In the event of a fire or an earthquake, evacuation of students and faculty is of utmost importance. As of late, however, protests on campus have seen only one or two student speakers up on those first two steps.

In addition, the proposed rules and regulations of announcing protests are not only restrictive, but also ridiculous.

The Time, Place, and Manner policy would prohibit the passing out of flyers unless they are distributed in printed material kiosks. The policy would also prohibit rally organizers from making more than one sign of a particular size.

Historically, the C Building has always been the gathering place for student activism. The implementation of strict regulations is not reflective of PCC’s history with free speech.

If administrators want to make sure that students are safe while rallies are in progress, then have campus authority monitor them. Restricting the freedom of speech, however, is not the answer – and for that, PCC can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the policy was rejected.

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