While crafting a First Amendment policy that is constitutional and understandable, it is important to decide where the media can go and where students can go. Using the events that happened at the University of Missouri with Professor Click, it is vital that the policy should divide areas of IUPUI campuses into traditionally open, limited, and nonpublic spaces. With the fallout of the Click firing, the University of Missouri is facing a 5% decline in enrollment which has created a fiscal shortfall of $32 million. IUPUI needs to protect itself from problems like these by deciding if to create “safe zones” where students can assemble without the intrusion of the media. And, if IUPUI does do this, would it be constitutionally permitted. Evaluating the legality of media-free safe zone needs to be done using the Indiana Constitution because the safe zones would be on state property.
Many colleges have established safe zones, which are often rooms where clubs can meet, so that students can meet without having to justify their beliefs (usually students who identify with LBGBTQ, veterans, or unique groups). But, at the University of Missouri, the space where Click tried to block journalists was in a public outdoor space. A student journalist was attempting to enter the space to question students who were protesting there. Professor Click and the student journalist entered a shoving match, which is why she was fired and charges were pressed against her.
