How sufficient are diversity and inclusion strategies compared to legal frameworks in guiding higher learning institutions’ response to free speech tensions?

Student Affairs Issue Project: Article Critique Assignment

Sufficiency of Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Learning Institutions’ Response to Free Speech Tensions
The right to freedom of expression has a long history that surpasses contemporary human rights treaties and provisions of constitutions (Palfrey, 2017). Despite the long-standing debate on free speech, it has continued to elicit different emotions and reactions from various social groups (Miller et al., 2018). Considering the polarized political environments across the United States and the globe, different political groups seek to resolve the issue, particularly in higher learning institutions where learners originate from a diversified environment (Palfrey, 2017). Thomas (2019) acknowledges that for more than a century, freedom of expression rights in higher learning institutions have shifted to reflect the administrators’ positions and values at the time of their reign. Such a trend illustrates the need to evaluate alternative approaches that would guide higher learning institutions’ response to free speech tensions as the legal framework can be biased (Thomas, 2019). This draft paper identifies the research question, critiques a related article on mechanisms of resolving free speech tensions in higher learning institutions, and evaluates different literature pieces to gather research on the subject and identify a possible resolution based on the studies.

Qualitative Research Question:
How sufficient are diversity and inclusion strategies compared to legal frameworks in guiding higher learning institutions’ response to free speech tensions?