Can Universities Charge Security Fees to Campus Groups for Hosting Controversial Speakers?
When University of Washington College Republicans invited conservative activist Joey Gibson to speak on campus, they did not expect to be charged with a $17,000 security fee to ensure that the rally would not get out of hand. The College Republicans sued to proceed with the event which led to clashes, counter protests and several arrests. A letter penned by Professor Eric Schnapper and endorsed by 22 others makes a First Amendment case to protect the right of the College Republicans and other similar groups. University of Washington law professor and Concurring Opinions writer Ronald K.L. Collins states, "the UW Law letter provides an informative guide to much of the existing law concerning free speech rights and security fees. In that regard, it should be useful to college administrators, lawyers representing colleges, lawyers representing students and speakers, and to student organizations in general, among others."
New Survey Finds First Amendment Challenges on College Campuses
Gallup, the Knight Foundation, the American Council on Education, Charles Koch Institute and the Stanton Foundation worked together to update a 2016 landmark survey of college students and their thoughts […]
Authors Share Excerpts on Free Speech: Catherine J. Ross and Lessons in Censorship
Ross's book "highlights the troubling and growing tendency of schools to clamp down on off-campus speech such as texting and sexting and reveals how well-intentioned measures to counter verbal bullying and hate speech may impinge on free speech. Throughout, Ross proposes ways to protect free expression without disrupting education." - Harvard University Press.
Authors Share Excerpts on Free Speech: Amy Gajda and The First Amendment Bubble
The First Amendment Bubble , "In determining the news that’s fit to print, U.S. courts have traditionally declined to second-guess professional journalists. But in an age when news, entertainment, and new media outlets are constantly pushing the envelope of acceptable content, the consensus over press freedoms is eroding." - Harvard University Press
Pride Flags Would Be Largely Banned in Tennessee Classrooms Under New Bill
The proposal, which was passed by the GOP-led House, marks another development in the ongoing political battle over LGBTQ+ rights in Tennessee.
Salman Rushdie Delivers Keynote Address at National First Amendment Summit
The celebrated author and free speech advocate warned of the rise of global authoritarianism in virtual remarks delivered on Wednesday.
Tennessee School Removes Student Suspension Over Memes Following First Amendment Lawsuit
A public high school in Tennessee agreed to remove a suspension from a student’s record following a lawsuit that claimed the school’s social media policies violated the student’s First Amendment rights and led to an unconstitutional disciplinary action.
Three Arguments in Defense of Free Expression
As you begin your college career, you should take time to consider what sort of campus culture you would like to help foster, and whether open discourse and debate are important to you and your educational goals. This module offers students three arguments students can use to convince others to look for solutions to problems that involve more speech, rather than censorship.