Archive
Gavel

Virginia Parole Board Chair Seeks $7 Million in Defamation Lawsuit

Tonya Chapman, chair of the Virginia Parole Board, filed a defamation lawsuit on March 29th in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond against CBS affiliate WTVR-TV and reporter Jonathan Burkett. The lawsuit stems from Burkett’s reporting on a draft report from the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) that allegedly implicated Chapman’s involvement in the early release of a prisoner.

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College campus

First Amendment Watch and FIRE Release New Campus Speech Modules

As the end of the current semester quickly approaches, First Amendment Watch and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education are already thinking ahead to this fall’s freshman orientation season on America’s college campuses. Use our latest orientation modules to talk about student press freedom and student's online speech rights.

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KeyBoard Hatespeech

Campus Speech Module: Student’s Online Speech Rights

In this module we discuss what students can expect when they speak online, as well as how they can respond productively and effectively to views they find distasteful. We also discuss the proper role of college administrators, who can be a resource for students to help guide discussion, without engaging in restrictive practices and censorship.

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free speech reading

Campus Speech Module: Recommended Common Reads from FIRE and First Amendment Watch

Choose from a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles with free expression themes. This reading list is great for administrators looking to assign summer reading, faculty members building syllabi, and student reading groups.

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Reporter's notebook

Campus Speech Module: The Role of Student Publications on Campus

Student journalists and publications play a vital role in informing their fellow students about campus events, serving as a check on their school’s administration, and uncovering stories that outside media might miss. Use this module to understand student journalist’s rights and their limitations.

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College campus

Campus Speech Module: FAQ: The First Amendment and Campus Life

Does the First Amendment apply to private schools? Can universities create policies that regulate student speech? Is hate speech a form of harassment? We created this module to answer basic and frequently asked questions students have about free speech on campus.

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New Case Tests Bounds of Professor’s Classroom Speech Rights

Nicholas Meriwether, a political philosophy professor at Shawnee State University, sued the institution after he was investigated for refusing to refer to a student by her preferred gender pronouns. The professor claims that doing so would go against his religious beliefs, and sued the school on First Amendment grounds.

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Utah

New Utah Law Blocks Pornographic Content on Phones and Tablets

On March 23rd, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill aimed at limiting minors’ access to pornographic content. The new law is the latest move in an ongoing campaign by conservative lawmakers in the state to combat online pornography.

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