Our freedom of speech is under attack by the local governments.

The Indiana House has officially killed the student’s freedom of speech and of press.

The bill ‘New Voices’ was sent to the Indiana House and failed on Feb. 5, with 47 to 45 votes, after falling short five votes of the 51 it needed. The bill was created to protect the voices and rights of student journalists.

Two of the House members that voted against it, Rep. Tony Cook and Rep. Wendy McNamara, are former school administrators. Cook stated that the bill will “erode the school principal’s and corporation’s authority.”

According to McNamara, students “lack the basic brain development” in order to have constitutional rights.

This is an appalling, direct attack on our freedom of speech and our freedom of press. To think that we do not have the “basic brain development” to form our own opinions is a laughable excuse to oppress the rights of students. They are seen as less than simply because they are not seen as adults by the legal system. Their voices and opinions are worthless because they are “children.”

This past year has been a fight for our first amendment rights. From the tweet made by Jemele Hill that was deemed a “fireable offense” to this current failure of a bill that should already exist, the fight for our first amendment has been ongoing and seemingly never-ending.

This shouldn’t be a battle that students have to fight. Their constitutional rights should already be given, not withheld until they turn 18.

As a journalist and as a student, this should not be something I read. I should not have to worry about being censored in my school simply because they disagree with my opinion or they want to look out for their reputation. I have the right to write anything I want, even if it exposes something controversial about the school.

Yes, it will take away the ultimate power that the principal and corporation has when dictating and controlling their students, but is that really an awful thing? These students are forming opinions and will definitely voice said opinions, whether the school likes it or not. When you silence an entire age demographic and dehumanize them by stating that they “lack basic brain development,” this creates the need for an outlet where students can express their opinions, even if it is against the school.

It’s very frustrating to see bills like this fail. The fact that these students have to fight for their constitutional rights is absolutely ridiculous. Even at the young age of 15-17, students are still people and they can still formed full, informed opinions on matters such as politics, economics and religion.

As a student, it’s very frustrating to have an older person tell me that I don’t know what I’m talking about, especially when I am very educated on the topic. I am all for another, more experienced opinion on a topic, especially when it comes to politics but there’s a difference between giving an opinion and being condescending to the younger person. Most of the time, we know what we’re talking about. Don’t try to tell us what we know and what we don’t know.