Every day on college campuses across the nation, students discuss, debate and argue sensitive political subjects in and out of classrooms.
Most of the time, the disputes end relatively uneventful, but one University of Memphis student is going to University court after she said a political debate turned ugly.
"I thought, 'Oh this has to be a mistake, nobody would call me "unnatural" in class,'" said Edie Love, junior religion major. "I felt safe here. I thought nobody would make fun of me because I'm (gay)."
After writing a story with a lesbian theme for an English class, Love said a student who reviewed the paper called lesbianism "unnatural."
Love decided to confront the student after the next class period, but the confrontation quickly escalated.
"I said, 'You seem like a nice lady but you're ignorant,'" Love said. "'You're a bigot and a homophobe and you need educating.'"
When professor John Schulze was unable to resolve the argument, Love said the other student left.
They saw each other on campus again that day, but Love said she didn't think much of it until she found out the student complained to the office of judicial affairs.
Love said she is being charged with physical abuse and harassment, having disorderly conduct and violating University policy and state or federal law.
"Her account of the events is extremely fictionalized," Love said. "I really feel sorry for her."
Dwayne Scott, dean of judicial affairs, could not be reached for comment Thursday, but assistants in the office said sufficient evidence must be presented before charges can be filed.
The case will go to trial within the next week, but some students see the incident as a dilemma between free speech and respecting others' opinions.
"Everyone has a right to express their opinion to a point where you're not defaming someone's character," said Bill Stewart, sophomore public relations major. "There's like an imaginary line, and you have to have a certain pair of sunglasses to see that line. Certain people have those sunglasses on, and other people don't."
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech ..."
College has long been thought of as an open forum where students can freely debate and exchange ideas, but Kimel Fryer, junior finance major, said that right must be used with respect in a classroom setting.
"I don't think it should go to the point where you're viciously slandering someone else," she said. "It's (Love's) right to talk about her lesbianism, and it's (the other student's) right to voice how she feels about it."
Barbara Kritchevsky, associate dean of the Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law, said in the classroom setting the professor should regulate free speech during debates.
When arguments escalate into threats - whether in or out of the classroom - Kritchevsky said neither The University nor the Constitution protect a student's right.
"Someone has a right to say someone else is a bigot, but there is no protection for threatening someone physically if that is what happened," she said. "There's a difference between trying to express your opinion in a respectful manner and either resorting towards expressing your views in a threatening matter or just bullying."
Pointing to the different protections between college and high school newspapers, Kritchevsky said different situations offer different protections to students.
"There is no constitutional freedom to do whatever you want," she said. "The first amendment protects speech, not conduct."
