PUNXSUTAWNEY - Indiana University of Pennsylvania Punxsutawney campus student Mackenzie Barr has received the 2019 IUP Punxsutawney Essay Scholarship award for her essay "Words Matter."
Students were asked to review IUP's "Free Speech on Campus" video and write an essay on how the video impacted them and how a balance could be struck between "freedom of speech" and "freedom from threatening or traumatizing environments."
Barr's essay expressed the power an individual's words have to both build up and tear down. Barr said that while everyone has freedom of speech in the country, using speech to demean an individual is harmful and should not be ignored. Barr said her faith had influenced her position.
"To implement my personal beliefs, God didn't create us as a beautiful, unique variety of individuals in His image just to watch us fight and tear each other down for our differences. We were created to love and appreciate each other in all our opposing glory, and to celebrate what makes us special," Barr said.
Barr said it is difficult to regulate harmful speech. Barr said students should be educated and exposed to a wide variety of cultures as early as possible and said education could help prevent discrimination.
Barr said universities should take precautions should be taken at presentations and the intent of the presentation should be evaluated. If the intent of a presentation on campus is to "to educate, show support, or build others up" then the presentation should be approved.
Barr was awarded $750 for her essay. IUP Punxsutawney also recognized AmandaRake and Amber Huffman who were both awarded $125 for their entries.