How do you perceive the balance between freedom of speech and the need for respectful discourse within the Victoria College Union (VCU) or equivalently, the Vic community?
Having the ability to express oneself and one's thoughts and ideas without fear of censorship or persecution in response is in many ways imperative for creativity, the addressing of social issues, and effective open dialogue and honest, transparent conversation. When I first arrived to Vic, one way in particular in which I saw the benefits of this was how openly the leaders talked about sex and the importance of consent and protection. Coming from a catholic high school, these issues were always considered taboo and were never addressed and I am grateful to have come to a place where a voice has been put to them and where we can be properly informed about it and even have the ability to reach out for help if necessary,
However, in many scenarios innumerous settings on the world stage, claiming to exercise one's right to free speech has been used to justify and rationalize hate speech, discriminative slander, and inappropriate comments. My belief in many ways echos what is outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that this right is not unlimited and that it does not impede on another's fundamental right to security. I believe that first and foremost, all individuals are entitled to a feeling of safety, comfort, kindness and acceptance and that hate speech that violates that has no place in Vic or anywhere. In my limited perception of Vic thus far (having only been here a few weeks), I view Vic as a very progressive, accepting, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming place and have had the privilege of not witnessing any incidents of inappropriate comments. However, in the event of it occurring, I will respond rapidly.
Currently, I haven't witnessed any issues within the Vic community (VCU) in terms of freedom of speech and the need for respectful discourse. However, if there were any issues in terms of freedom of speech or the need for respectful discourse, I would suggest that people simply take a step back and re-evaluate their demeanour. I believe it is possible to maintain freedom of speech and still remain respectful to others, as long as you are aware of what the boundary is in any situation.
Of course, my response is more generic in terms of solving this issue, however, I would be able to elaborate more on a specific topic or issue,
The opportunity for freedom of speech along with respectful discourse is important to creating improvement in the VCU community. Meaning, that the right for each Vicky to be able to express their opinions will only create a more inclusive environment with multiple perspectives. However, it is important that discourse caused by the amalgamation of these perspectives remains respectful so as to not directly attack anyone. Hence, I believe the balance between these two (freedom of speech and respectful discourse) should consistently be maintained but it should also be acknowledged that the balance may shift and that VUSAC should step in and resolve any problems.
Balance in freedom of speech is essential to maintain a respectful environment between the VUSAC and VCU. Here is my take on how to approach the indicated matter.
Primarily focusing on online environments, with protected digital anonymity and privacies, it is a growing trend to see students often commenting online without being considerate to others. By promoting digital literacy and respectful communication through education and awareness, students can put collective efforts into promoting inclusivity and discouraging acts like hate speech. With that, it will be crucial to implement a moderation system by creating a team of online moderators, going through the comment/response sections of the various VUSAC social media accounts and the VUSAC Forum itself.Thank you for the question!Albert Deok-Hyun Ahn.
Balance is vital in every aspect of daily life. Through my numerous experiences in student government and other leadership roles, I’ve found that freedom of speech and respect occasionally clash.
My number one rule in these situations is consideration of each other. Is your opinion hurting someone? Is it constructive or are you letting emotions cloud your judgement? Will your point serve to further the discussion or simply hurt others? These are just some questions that I insist be asked before one speaks their mind in a public setting.
A moderator, an objective third party is important in these situations, which is the role I would be in as councillor
Hi, Dhir. This is a really important question and I want to highlight a few points on this.
Balancing freedom of speech and the need for respectful discourse within the VCU or the Vic community is a complex task for any student council, including VUSAC. Here's how I would perceive and address this delicate balance:
Foundational Principle: Recognise that freedom of speech is a fundamental democratic value and an essential aspect of academic and intellectual discourse. It is crucial to uphold the principle that individuals have the right to express their opinions, even if those opinions are controversial or unpopular.
Respectful Discourse: Emphasise the importance of respectful discourse and civil dialogue within the Vic community. Encourage students to express their views in a manner that promotes constructive discussion and avoids personal attacks, hate speech, or harassment.
Educational Initiatives: Implement educational initiatives that promote media literacy, critical thinking, and effective communication skills among students. These initiatives can help students engage in more informed and respectful discussions.
Dialogue and Mediation: Facilitate open dialogue and mediation processes to address conflicts or disputes that may arise due to differing viewpoints. Encourage parties involved to engage in constructive conversations to resolve their differences.
Balancing freedom of speech and respectful discourse is an ongoing challenge, and there may be instances where difficult decisions need to be made. The key is to strike a reasonable and ethical balance that protects individuals' rights while also fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the Vic community.
Similarly to freedom of expression and hate speech in the Charter, I believe that it is important to encourage everyone's ability to convey their thoughts, feelings and opinions freely so long as they do not attack the identities or beliefs of others.
Continuing to work with organizations such as the Equity Commission, VicPride, and the Mental Wellness Commission when these issues arise is imperative.
With Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, we are guaranteed the right to free speech, thought and expression.
However, that does not entitle folks the right to spew hate at other groups. I don't believe this should be complicated.
Take care,
Logan
Having the ability to express oneself and one's thoughts and ideas without fear of censorship or persecution in response is in many ways imperative for creativity, the addressing of social issues, and effective open dialogue and honest, transparent conversation. When I first arrived to Vic, one way in particular in which I saw the benefits of this was how openly the leaders talked about sex and the importance of consent and protection. Coming from a catholic high school, these issues were always considered taboo and were never addressed and I am grateful to have come to a place where a voice has been put to them and where we can be properly informed about it and even have the ability to reach out for help if necessary,
However, in many scenarios innumerous settings on the world stage, claiming to exercise one's right to free speech has been used to justify and rationalize hate speech, discriminative slander, and inappropriate comments. My belief in many ways echos what is outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that this right is not unlimited and that it does not impede on another's fundamental right to security. I believe that first and foremost, all individuals are entitled to a feeling of safety, comfort, kindness and acceptance and that hate speech that violates that has no place in Vic or anywhere. In my limited perception of Vic thus far (having only been here a few weeks), I view Vic as a very progressive, accepting, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming place and have had the privilege of not witnessing any incidents of inappropriate comments. However, in the event of it occurring, I will respond rapidly.
Hello,
Currently, I haven't witnessed any issues within the Vic community (VCU) in terms of freedom of speech and the need for respectful discourse. However, if there were any issues in terms of freedom of speech or the need for respectful discourse, I would suggest that people simply take a step back and re-evaluate their demeanour. I believe it is possible to maintain freedom of speech and still remain respectful to others, as long as you are aware of what the boundary is in any situation.
Of course, my response is more generic in terms of solving this issue, however, I would be able to elaborate more on a specific topic or issue,
Thank you,
Justin Liou
Hi!
The opportunity for freedom of speech along with respectful discourse is important to creating improvement in the VCU community. Meaning, that the right for each Vicky to be able to express their opinions will only create a more inclusive environment with multiple perspectives. However, it is important that discourse caused by the amalgamation of these perspectives remains respectful so as to not directly attack anyone. Hence, I believe the balance between these two (freedom of speech and respectful discourse) should consistently be maintained but it should also be acknowledged that the balance may shift and that VUSAC should step in and resolve any problems.
Thank you,
Isha
Hi,
Balance in freedom of speech is essential to maintain a respectful environment between the VUSAC and VCU. Here is my take on how to approach the indicated matter.
Primarily focusing on online environments, with protected digital anonymity and privacies, it is a growing trend to see students often commenting online without being considerate to others. By promoting digital literacy and respectful communication through education and awareness, students can put collective efforts into promoting inclusivity and discouraging acts like hate speech. With that, it will be crucial to implement a moderation system by creating a team of online moderators, going through the comment/response sections of the various VUSAC social media accounts and the VUSAC Forum itself. Thank you for the question! Albert Deok-Hyun Ahn.
Balance is vital in every aspect of daily life. Through my numerous experiences in student government and other leadership roles, I’ve found that freedom of speech and respect occasionally clash.
My number one rule in these situations is consideration of each other. Is your opinion hurting someone? Is it constructive or are you letting emotions cloud your judgement? Will your point serve to further the discussion or simply hurt others? These are just some questions that I insist be asked before one speaks their mind in a public setting.
A moderator, an objective third party is important in these situations, which is the role I would be in as councillor
Hi, Dhir. This is a really important question and I want to highlight a few points on this.
Balancing freedom of speech and the need for respectful discourse within the VCU or the Vic community is a complex task for any student council, including VUSAC. Here's how I would perceive and address this delicate balance:
Foundational Principle: Recognise that freedom of speech is a fundamental democratic value and an essential aspect of academic and intellectual discourse. It is crucial to uphold the principle that individuals have the right to express their opinions, even if those opinions are controversial or unpopular.
Respectful Discourse: Emphasise the importance of respectful discourse and civil dialogue within the Vic community. Encourage students to express their views in a manner that promotes constructive discussion and avoids personal attacks, hate speech, or harassment.
Educational Initiatives: Implement educational initiatives that promote media literacy, critical thinking, and effective communication skills among students. These initiatives can help students engage in more informed and respectful discussions.
Dialogue and Mediation: Facilitate open dialogue and mediation processes to address conflicts or disputes that may arise due to differing viewpoints. Encourage parties involved to engage in constructive conversations to resolve their differences.
Balancing freedom of speech and respectful discourse is an ongoing challenge, and there may be instances where difficult decisions need to be made. The key is to strike a reasonable and ethical balance that protects individuals' rights while also fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the Vic community.
Hello!
Similarly to freedom of expression and hate speech in the Charter, I believe that it is important to encourage everyone's ability to convey their thoughts, feelings and opinions freely so long as they do not attack the identities or beliefs of others.
Continuing to work with organizations such as the Equity Commission, VicPride, and the Mental Wellness Commission when these issues arise is imperative.
Kindess is key,
Sophie