Free Speech

Freedom of speech is the right of a person to articulate opinions and ideas without interference or retaliation from the government. The term “speech” constitutes expression that includes far more than just words, but also what a person wears, reads, performs, protests and more. In the United States, freedom of speech is strongly protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as well as many state and federal laws.

At Cal State San Marcos, we strive to be an inclusive, diverse and welcoming campus community. As part of that, the freedom of expression is an important bedrock value for both our university and our nation. On our intellectually and culturally diverse campus, the Freedom of Expression provides all members the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute to our shared mission to create a more just, free and prosperous world.

But translating theoretical principles into real-world practice can be messy, particularly if different members of our community have conflicting opinions, as they inevitably will. However, it’s not the proper role of CSUSM to shield our students, faculty and staff from unwelcome, disagreeable or even deeply offensive ideas and opinions. This includes when these ideas and opinions go against our own institutional values and are hateful, repugnant or loathsome to many.

To learn more about what is free speech, hate speech and how to navigate campus policies on speech please visit our Free Speech Website.

Free Speech WebsiteFree Speech Resources