I believe college campuses are sanctuaries for free speech. They are where ideas are tested, revised, challenged, and often reshaped. Universities should not fear difficult conversations or unpopular opinions. Instead, they should be the safest place in the world for them. That means we must uphold a high bar for tolerance when it comes to speech—even whent hat speech doesn’t align with mainstream liberal, neoliberal, or otherwise dominant ideological and institutional paradigms. Free expression should never be reduced to a partisan weapon. In a truly academic space, students must feel empowered to speak across lines of difference, without fear. But with that freedom comes responsibility. I believe in free speech. I also believe in accountability. As SGA President, I will propose the formation of a Student Government Working Groupon Campus Expression.

This group will include student leaders who observe and engagewith free speech events on campus. Their job will be to monitor the climate and recommend measured responses when speech crosses the line into discrimination ortargeted harassment.If prejudice, slurs, dehumanizing language, or bigotry arise, we won’t ignore it—but we alsowon’t overreact. A first violation may lead to a warning. Repeated offenses may requirestronger measures or educational intervention. And only in the case of a clear, imminentthreat to safety would I support restricting a protest or clearing a space. Importantly, most campus discourse today unfolds on social media.

That’s where polarization manifests, tensions build, and unfortunately, where cyberbullying too oftenoccurs. Let’s be clear: targeted harassment is not free speech—it’s abuse.That’s why I support creating a subcommittee on online campus expression within theCampus Expression Working Group. Its role would be to investigate patterns ofcyberbullying that affect GW students, using available reports, context, and digital clues tobetter understand and address this problem. While not every case can be verified,consistent reporting and community awareness can help us foster a safer online climate.

Another critical role of this group will be to ensure that students feel safe expressingthemselves in the classroom—even when their views do not align with mainstreamideological norms. Academic freedom must extend to students, not just faculty. Thiscommittee will work to promote norms and tools that protect respectful, good-faithclassroom expression.We must balance courage with care, and freedom with responsibility.That’s what it means to take dialogue seriously.Let us not be another polarized campus.Let us be a model.Let us Heal GW