Speech Codes

Miami University in Florida received a red rating for their speech indicating that they are, in some cases, too restrictive of student speech based upon FIRE's standards.  This rating is because of a few policies that the organization deems too restrictive, but there are also policies that the FIRE organization believes are deserving or yellow (okay) and green (good) ratings as well.  While a red rating seems as if it would be bad, I have no issue with a school with a red rating.  I would be worried to be going to a school with a green rating on the FIRE website because I want to feel safe and have limited hate speech on my campus and while this organization may feel that this is too restrictive, I prefer it.  Furthermore, rules banning hate speech will not negatively impact me because I do not engage in hate speech or harassment and I feel that if someone is worried about rules that try to combat hate speech, there is an issue with them more so than with the school.  As prospective student, this red rating makes me like the school more than I did before and makes me feel more comfortable possibly attending.  I now view the school as a more progressive and inclusive place which is a better fit for me.  I feel that if someone does not want to comply with rules at any specific school, they should not apply there, and therefore, are not having their rights infringed upon when schools put in place rules that uphold their own core values-- values that prospective students should be familiar with and agree with upon choosing to attend .
In the past, schools have tried to put in place rules to protect their students from hateful speech and in many cases these rules have been shot down.  I don't think that anyone should have to stop doing something just because someone gets offended, but if someone is being harmed or harassed, it is important to have rules in place to stop that from happening.
I believe that if students at Miami University were acting in ways that were racist and rude toward people of other races, they would try and do something to stop these actions from continuing.  If people were throwing racist parties and dressing up as people from another race in an offensive manner, I believe that Miami would be able to get them in trouble because of a rule that they have that states, 'Unwelcomed words or acts, whether intentional or a product of the disregard for the safety, rights, or welfare of others, which intimidate, degrade, demean, threaten, bully, haze or otherwise interfere with another person’s daily activity is prohibited.'  I believe that these parties fall under the demean, degrade, and bullying that is not allowed because of this rule.
Overall, if I go to Miami for college I would feel safe and happy at this school.  Although I do agree with FIRE's definition of what speech codes are, I also believe that speech codes are useful and important.  I would rather have too many rules at my school that are meant to protect students from harassment.  I do not feel like speech codes are restrictions because they are in place to protect people from feeling unsafe and discriminated against when they are on their college campuses, a place in which they should feel safe.