Keyerra King WRD-103 10/23/13

Dear Supreme Court Justices, In todays society, offensive language is becoming far too common. People are becoming inconsiderate of those whom are on the receiving end of the offensive comments. his is especially true in our schools. I!m proposing that you come up with laws that are more strict on offensive language on school campuses nationwide. here needs to be a law that ma"es the #merican people feel as if they can be secure in who they are. here needs to be a law that can ma"e everyone feel comfortable and safe. $ithout this the #merica will be stepping bac" into a past we try so hard to forget. Students or anyone else should not be allowed to ma"e obscene comments about one another. If this happens it could lead to defamation of someones character. Defamation can become a serious situation if it goes too far. #ny type of slander or libel on school property could very well ruin the reputation of the school and the people involved with the claims. %awsuits will surely surface and therell be long and arduous battles to endure in order to determine what truly happened. If there were laws in place this type of situation could definitely be avoided. &ow, it is "nown that the 'irst #mendment protects freedom of speech. (owever, not all speech is protected under this amendment. Instances that might occur at a school would be a student ma"ing an obscene speech at a school sponsored event or advocating illegal drug use at a school)sponsored event. #nyone that portrays false statement as facts would not be protected under this amendment. 'urthermore, since schools are federally owned, it ma"es sense to have laws to protect the people who attend school. #ccording to a case you ruled on, Chaplins"y v. &ew (ampshire, *fighting words+ are not protected speech. People are provo"ed by *fighting words+ ,uite often, yet virtually nothing is being done about it. -ffensive language can also cause emotional distress.People have committed suicide because things that were said to them. here has to be something done before more lives are lost because those who are afflicted dont have any help. hreats can definitely be considered obscene language. he people on the giving end of the threat are posing actual harm to whomever is on the receiving end. Students on campus cannot and do not feel safe because they wonder where and when the ne.t threat or comment is going to come. Sure, there are e.ceptions to what constitutes a threat but the #merican people need to "now that they can wal" around freely "nowing that there is some law protecting their rights to be themselves.

Keyerra King WRD-103 10/23/13

#s a student, i want to feel as if school is a place to flourish who we are as people. Its a place of refuge for many people. %aws that ban offensive language would ma"e school a better environment for all those involved. It would be easier for everyone to be as successful as possible. Success is contingent upon the effort put in to ma"e everything wor" together. If the laws are successful at regulating language policies at schools then everything will start to connect. /es the 'irst #mendment covers freedom of speech. (owever, if that speech is intentionally and maliciously directed toward someone , that!s when it becomes unprotected. 0egulating offensive speech and language at all schools would encourage students and staff to learn to wor" together. $hen this happens the country will be a country "nown to be respectable and courteous. 0egulating speech would only wor" out for the countrys wellbeing. Consider this1 would you sit by and let the country slip into its horrible past or will you help push it forward2 han" you for your consideration. 3eyerra 3ing Dear 4s. 3ing, han" you for your letter, and for your concern about offensive language on college campuses. /ou mention that you are a student, and we are curious to "now where. (istorically, there have been students on college campuses who have suffered from this "ind of *offensive language+ you are referring to, and we are curious to see if you have seen the effects of this "ind of abusive behavior first) hand. -r maybe your opinion stems from something you read. /ou mention that sometimes this "ind of *meaningless slander+ is not so meaningless and can result in depression or even suicide. 5nfortunately, we have seen that this can happen, and we are wondering if you could discuss a specific case that resonated with you or prompted you to write to us this very thought)provo"ing letter. 'urthermore, you discuss a law against offensive language, but what would be the parameters of such a law2 $hat would be considered an offense, and perhaps more importantly, what would be the punishment for an offender2 #re you tal"ing about 6ust college campuses, or a world)wide law2 'inally, wed li"e you to identify what you classify as *offensive language+ and what you classify as a *threat.+ Should these both be treated the same2 If not, how should we distinguish an offensive phrase from a threatening phrase2 It is important for our laws and policies to be specific, so that when we identify a violation, we can

Keyerra King WRD-103 10/23/13

support our actions against it. If you are interested in the safety and freedom of students on your college campus, we advise that you first appeal to the office of student conduct to draft a proposal of how to prevent slander on campus. Starting here could be very beneficial for you, as it could have an immediate effect on your surrounding community. han" you for writing, and we loo" forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Supreme Court Justices