The Department of Education released new, final regulations this past week, providing crucial free speech and religious liberty protections for students at our nation’s public college campuses. Institutions that violate those core rights will risk losing access to federal education grants. The… Read More ›
free speech
Just as George Orwell warned, governments don’t have to be the censors for free speech and free expression to be fatally stifled
Why George Orwell’s Warning on ‘Self-Censorship’ Is More Relevant Than Ever
Fordham student punished for holding a gun in Instagram photo memorializing Tiananmen Square massacre
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is taking aim at Fordham University for placing a student on probation for two images he posted on social media, one of which memorialized the Tiananmen Square massacre. On June 3, rising senior Austin… Read More ›
Binghamton University campus police surveil students and threaten prosecution over anti-racism flyers
Binghamton, NY — After calling students’ expressive activities “a violation of the law and of the student handbook,” State University of New York at Binghamton campus police surveilled students’ literature distribution, threatened to prosecute them for posting flyers indoors, and… Read More ›
The University of New Hampshire earns top rating for free speech
Durham, NC — New Hampshire’s flagship public research university has become the fortieth institution in the country to earn the highest rating for free speech from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). The University of New Hampshire (UNH)… Read More ›
Florida Senate Judiciary Committee Should Seize Opportunity to Protect Free Speech on Campus
Tallahassee, Fla – Today, the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on whether or not to advance SB 1234, also known as the Campus Free Expression Act. The bill will improve the free speech climate at Florida’s publicly funded college and university campuses by… Read More ›
Oregon lawmaker targets Portland mom with new law to shut her up
Portland, Oregon — An Oregon lawmaker is on a mission to pass a new law targeting Kim Sordyl, a Portland mom, and Democrat, for being outspoken about problems plaguing Portland Public Schools (PPS), which include the district agreeing to… Read More ›
Student detained by Joliet Junior College police for handing out flyers
Chicago, Illinois — Joliet Junior College (JJC) student Ivette Salazar only wanted to do what Americans do every day: exercise her First Amendment right to respond to an opposing viewpoint. For that, campus police detained her, confiscated her political… Read More ›
Rensselaer Polytech continues censorship of its students
TROY, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute administrators are doubling down on their crusade to stamp out student criticism. The school is bringing disciplinary charges against students who participated in a peaceful demonstration last month, even accusing one student of “operating… Read More ›
Student groups to appeal after court dismisses lawsuit against University of South Carolina administrators
Columbia, S.C. — Can the University of South Carolina’s equal opportunity office investigate students for a university-approved free speech event because other students claim they find the event “offensive” and “triggering?” The answer, which should alarm any American who cares… Read More ›