A college in Vermont garnered national attention Wednesday after it blocked students from accessing the anonymous messaging app, Yik Yak. Despite the controversy surrounding the app, Syracuse University and other colleges should not stop students from using Yik Yak as it is a form of free speech.

Founded at Furman University by two college students, Yik Yak has spread to more than 250 campuses across the country, including SU. Because the app is location-based, all “Yaks” are the thoughts of those in or around the SU campus. The app has been gaining notoriety at SU, and according to the latest numbers provided by Yik Yak, there have been 66,903 Yaks in the Syracuse area since Sept. 16.

Critics of Yik Yak say the anonymous platform is a breeding ground for cyberbullying, racist, sexist and homophobic comments. This is true. But taking away the app will not take away the problem. Limiting free speech is not a solution to offensive speech.

As seen on campus a few weeks ago, racist and homophobic remarks exist outside of Yik Yak. Cyberbullying existed long before Yik Yak and it still exists outside of the app. Yik Yak is not the source of offensive speech, it’s merely a platform for it. These problems can only start to be solved with an effort from students.

Students who want to fight the derogatory comments on Yik Yak have a few options: report the offensive comment to get the user suspended, stop fueling the fire and delete the app entirely or respond themselves. Whatever students choose to do, it is not the university’s place to stop students’ speech by blocking Yik Yak.

Students, however, should realize that while the app is anonymous, anything they say could have repercussions. Anonymity might make some users braver, but it is never a true shield against legal action. On Monday, a student at the University of Southern Mississippi was arrested after posting a threat on Yik Yak to injure students. Freedom of speech does not protect those who legitimately threaten the safety of others.

It’s not good that students are using Yik Yak to post insensitive comments. But banning the app would be worse. The problem is not the anonymous platform, but the people on it. Universities should concentrate on the motivation of offensive speech, not on limiting the platforms it appears on.