Student Government voted to table a bill indefinitely that would expand Iowa State’s free-speech zone to Central Campus on Wednesday night. The zones, officially called the Areas of Free Debate, are public forum spaces designed for expression located in two specific areas on campus.

The bill would add an additional free-speech zone on the grassy area of Central Campus with a few caveats. The zone would’ve been only open to ISU students, faculty and staff for demonstrations and protests, and the events would have had to taken place 100 feet away from any building. The bill was tabled by a Senate vote of 21-16.

This tabling of this bill contributes to a culture on the ISU campus that does not support free speech of its community. The fact that the university even has specific zones designated for free speech shows the community, students in particular, that the university does not embrace free speech on its campus or at the very least does not allow students to feel as if their speech is welcomed and accepted.

Although the bill was not perfect — any sort of specific area designated for free speech sends a negative message for students — at least it would have expanded the physical land on campus dedicated to free speech as well as opportunity for more groups to use the spaces at the same time.

Senators in the meeting were concerned that the new zone may bother students who are using Central Campus for leisure or studying. However, is avoiding public discourse on important issues really more important than sun bathing or napping under a tree on Central Campus?

Additionally, it is true that the ISU campus has seen the more unpopular side of free speech this year, specifically the traveling preachers who often offended and insulted students walking by them on campus. However, simply because someone’s speech is unpopular or unwanted is not a good enough reason to limit the basic constitutional right. Quite frankly, that type of speech is the kind that the First Amendment is designed to protect.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has given Iowa State a “red light” rating for free speech on campus, the worst possible rating for colleges and universities. This means that the university has “at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech.” The organization points to Iowa State’s policy against harassment and discrimination as being too harsh and limiting free speech.

It is shameful that our university does not have a culture that promotes free speech. Free-speech zones send a confusing and unwelcoming message to students. Firstly, students might not understand that, for the most part, they are free to speak, hand out flyers and protest on almost all outdoor areas on campus. Secondly, the zones also send a message that the university wants to limit free speech to certain areas.

Therefore, Iowa State should not have established free-speech zones. However, if Student Government has the power to expand free-speech zones, a little more of this freer area is better than what Iowa State has now.