Re: “Protected speech on campus” [Dec. 14, Opinion]:
I agree with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley College of Legislation, and Howard Gillman, chancellor of UC Irvine and legislation professor, on the necessity for universities to return to the rules of free speech.
Except the speech constitutes harassment or different crime or is directed at a particular individual, it needs to be protected. Censorship just isn’t the reply to vile, bigoted or ignorant speech. The reply is extra speech, extra debate, extra range of concepts.
Freedom of expression and public discourse are the idea of a functioning democracy.
Decide Theresa Doyle (retired), Seattle
