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Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Newsletter
New Victory for Freedom of Conscience at University of Delaware
In yesterday's meeting of the University of Delaware Board of Trustees, the board discussed the Residence Life educational program proposal that was passed last week by the Faculty Senate. The board confronted Vice President for Student Life Michael Gilbert over the proposal before passing it. According to accounts from people who observed the meeting, Gilbert took full responsibility for executing the program and ensuring that ResLife officials do not further trample students' rights. Given ResLife's past disregard for students' constitutional rights, FIRE will be keeping a close eye on this program.
Greg Lukianoff on 'Threatening' Speech in The Wall Street Journal
FIRE President Greg Lukianoff is quoted in today's edition of The Wall Street Journal in an article about the challenges universities face distinguishing true threats from protected expression. Greg explains that the problem on campus is that "Right now, if a university administrator claims that someone is a threat, even if that threat is virtually unsupportable and completely unreasonable, they have carte blanche to do what they want." This is precisely what happened to T. Hayden Barnes at Valdosta State University, whose story is featured in the article. For even more on Valdosta State, see FIRE's short film highlighting both the university's outrageous treatment of Hayden Barnes and its unconstitutional free speech zone policy.
Lecturer at Cal State–Fullerton Fired Over Loyalty Oath
Last August, California State University–Fullerton fired a lecturer for refusing to sign a loyalty oath in which she would have pledged to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic." Wendy Gonaver, a Quaker and lifelong pacifist, wanted to clarify that she did not believe in a violent defense of the government and requested that she be permitted to attach a brief statement to the oath expressing her personal objections and her belief in nonviolence. The university, however, refused to make this accommodation and subsequently fired her when she did not sign the oath. Gonaver is currently being represented by People for the American Way and is attempting to work out a compromise with the university.
Recent Media Coverage
The Wall Street Journal, May 20, "Schools struggle with dark writings," by Elizabeth Bernstein
Inside Higher Ed, May 16, "Honorary Degrees, Free Speech and Respect," by Scott Jaschik
More media coverage at thefire.org »
May 20, "New Victory for Freedom of Conscience at University of Delaware," Adam Kissel
May 20, "When Schools Punish Creative Work," Adam Kissel
May 20, "Greg Lukianoff on 'Threatening' Speech in 'The Wall Street Journal'," Samantha Harris
May 19, "What is Harvey Mudd Hiding?," Samantha Harris
May 19, "Brandeis Faculty Continues to Revolt in 'Wetbacks' Case," Adam Kissel
Read The Torch at thefire.org »
Recent Multimedia Content
Video, Chainsaw Etiquette at Colorado College
FIREside Chats, Episode 114: A Thanks to All Our Donors
FIREside Chats, Episode 113: Residence Life Program Proposal at the University of Delaware
More multimedia at thefire.org »
2008
The mission of FIRE is to defend and sustain individual rights at America's colleges and universities.
Speech Code of the Month
FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for May 2008: the University of Louisville. The University of Louisville's Code of Student Conduct prohibits "[e]ngaging in intentional conduct directed at a specific person(s) which seriously alarms or intimidates such person(s) and which serves no legitimate purpose," but this hopelessly vague and overbroad restriction on speech has no place at a public university. Louisville also defines "hostile environment harassment" as "unwelcomed comments or conduct that have the purpose of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment that a reasonable person would find threatening or intimidating." However, this definition fails to meet the exacting standards for peer-on-peer harassment supplied by the Supreme Court, resulting in an impermissibly vague restriction on expression that serves to chill speech on campus.
RSS Feed | Multimedia | Speech Code of the Month
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