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What can I do about hateful or offensive ideas that are expressed at ������������?

Here are some ideas for how you can respond to speech that is hateful or offensive. Each situation is different and you must decide what the right path is for you:

• If you feel safe, you can seek to talk to the person expressing the hateful or offensive idea. Sometimes, personal dialogue is the best way to understand each other. You should only do this if you feel safe. ������������ may be able to offer resources to help facilitate such conversations. Please contact freedomofexpression@pcc.edu for more information.
• You can exercise your own freedom of speech to express your ideas. For instance, in accordance with ������������ policies, you can pass out leaflets or hold signs that express your own ideas. You can also engage in the right to protest, as long as the protest follows ������������’s policies.
• You can ignore the speech you disagree with, and thus not bring more attention to it. Responding to hateful or offensive speech might result in giving it more attention.
• Take care of yourself, and seek support from others. Being exposed to hateful or offensive ideas is upsetting and painful. ������������ has resources that can support you.

There are free expression events that make me feel unwelcome at ������������. What can I do?

Everyone is welcome at ������������. While ������������ cannot stop offensive speech, ������������ wants to ensure that you feel welcome and able to participate in all ������������ programs and opportunities. There are many ������������ and student organizations to support you.

What can I do if a free expression event makes me concerned for my safety?

Everyone has the right to be safe on ������������’s campuses. If a free speech event makes you worry about your personal safety, please contact Public Safety.

I felt personally targeted at a free expression event. What can I do?

While the law protects the expression of offensive or hateful ideas, it does not protect conduct or behavior that is verbal abuse or harassment under ������������’s policies. ������������’s policy defines harassment as “unwelcome verbal, nonverbal (for example, whistling), visual or physical conduct based on protected status that is so severe, persistent, and pervasive that it interferes with or limits a student, faculty or staff member’s ability to participate in or benefit from the College’s educational and/or employment opportunities, programs or activities.” If you believe that offensive speech has crossed the line into harassment or abuse, visit our Title IX support resources page.

I feel depressed and upset that members of the ������������ community are expressing ideas that are hurtful and offensive to me and people like me. What can I do?

������������ offers support and resources for students who are impacted by hurtful or offensive ideas. Please contact:

• Counseling
• Identity-based centers listed on

You can also submit a complaint or provide feedback to ������������.

What is ������������ doing to respond to hateful or offensive speech?

������������ will continue to express its values as a college, which include diversity, equity, inclusion, and creating a welcoming environment. ������������ is committed to ensuring that every student is able to access their education in an environment that honors, values and respects them.