Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
AbbreviationFIRE
Founded1999; 25 years ago (1999)
FounderAlan Charles Kors
Harvey Silverglate
04-3467254
Headquarters510 Walnut Street, Suite 900 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°56′53″N 75°09′05″W / 39.9481°N 75.1513°W / 39.9481; -75.1513
President
Greg Lukianoff
Websitethefire.org

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), formerly called the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, is a 501(c)(3)[1] non-profit civil liberties group founded in 1999 with the mission of protecting freedom of speech on college campuses in the United States.[2][3][4] FIRE changed its name in June 2022, when it broadened its focus from colleges to freedom of speech throughout American society.[5]

Overview

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education was co-founded by Alan Charles Kors and Harvey Silverglate in 1999, who were FIRE's co-directors until 2004.[2] Kors and Silverglate had co-authored a 1998 book opposing censorship at colleges following the water buffalo incident at the University of Pennsylvania.[3][6][7] Silverglate had served on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts.[2] Kors served as FIRE's first president and chairperson. Its first executive director and, later, CEO, was Thor Halvorssen.[8] It was founded to be non-ideological and nonpartisan.[2]

FIRE files lawsuits against colleges and universities that it perceives as curtailing First Amendment rights of students and professors.[3][9][10][11] FIRE has been described as a competitor of the ACLU.[12][2][5]

FIRE has received major funding from groups which primarily support conservative and libertarian causes, including the Bradley Foundation, Sarah Scaife Foundation, and the Charles Koch Institute.[3][13][14][15] Among its other donors is the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation,[16] Jack Dorsey's philanthropic initiative #StartSmall,[17] and, FIRE president Greg Lukianoff told Politico, the center-left Knight Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.[18] According to The New York Times journalist Cecilia Capuzzi Simon, "There are other groups that fight for First Amendment rights on campus, but none as vocal—or pushy—as FIRE."[3] The Times also referred to FIRE as a "familiar irritant to college administrators" and said FIRE "bristles at the right-wing tag often applied to them."[3] Cathy Young, a Cato Institute fellow and columnist for The Bulwark, wrote that "FIRE has handled many cases involving speech suppression in the name of progressive values, [but] it is that rare group which actually means it when it claims to be nonpartisan", noting that it had sued on behalf of a professor who was fired because of a negative tweet about Mike Pence.[12]

In June 2022, FIRE announced it was expanding its efforts beyond college campuses, to American society.[13] It was renamed Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, keeping the acronym FIRE. It detailed a $75 million expansion plan over three years to focus on "litigation, public education, and research."[19] Josh Gerstein wrote in Politico that "part of the push may challenge the American Civil Liberties Union's primacy as a defender of free speech." Politico also wrote that FIRE would spend $10 million on "planned national cable and billboard advertising featuring activists on both ends of the political spectrum extolling the virtues of free speech."[5]

In April 2023, FIRE hosted a gala in New York City to celebrate its expanded mission.[20] The event featured keynote remarks by rapper Killer Mike, who told the audience, "Right now, in this country, your freedom of speech is at risk."[21]

Organization

FIRE is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with another office in Washington, D.C.[22][23] As of October 2023, Politico reported that FIRE employs 109 people, including 42 lawyers, and has an annual budget of nearly $37 million.[18]

Leadership

First Amendment attorney and The Coddling of the American Mind co-author Greg Lukianoff serves as president and CEO.[24][25][26][27] Nico Perrino is executive vice president.[28][29] Ira Glasser, former executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), serves on FIRE's Advisory Council.[30] Former ACLU President Nadine Strossen is a Senior Fellow.[31][32]

Policy positions

Campus speech

FIRE rates colleges with a red, yellow, or green light based on its assessments of speech restrictions, with a red light meaning that a college policy "both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech."[33][34] FIRE's percentage of colleges with "red light" speech codes increased in 2022 for the first time in 15 years.[35][36] FIRE also gives colleges that do not promise their students free speech rights a "warning" rating.[37][38] In 2007, Jon B. Gould, an author and George Mason University faculty member, criticized FIRE's rating methods, arguing that FIRE had exaggerated the prevalence of unconstitutional speech codes.[39]

In 2020, FIRE partnered with College Pulse and RealClearEducation to release the College Free Speech Rankings, a comparison of student free-speech environments at America's top college campuses.[40][41] The rankings incorporate FIRE's speech code ratings, but also include surveys of students at the ranked schools.[42] In their 2025 rankings, FIRE and College Pulse ranked more than 250 schools and surveyed over 58,000 students, with the University of Virginia achieving the top ranking and Harvard University ranking last.[43][44]

FIRE has challenged free speech zones on college campuses, claiming they are unconstitutional restrictions on First Amendment rights.[45] The organization has provided legal support to students contesting free speech zones, while also supporting legislation to eliminate such zones.[46] In his book Speech Out of Doors: Preserving First Amendment Liberties in Public Places (Cambridge University Press, 2008), law professor Timothy Zick wrote "in large part due to [FIRE's] litigation and other advocacy efforts, campus expressive zoning policies have been highlighted, altered, and in a number of cases repealed."[47]

During campus protests over the Israel–Hamas war, FIRE representatives have said that colleges and universities can enact "reasonable time, place, and manner" restrictions but they must be applied in "a content viewpoint neutral manner".[48][49][50]

Social media censorship

FIRE opposes efforts by the government to pressure private social media companies to censor speech on their platforms.[51][52] The group argues that "efforts to 'jawbone' private platforms into granting government officials a role in decisions about content moderation must fail."[53] FIRE chief counsel Robert Corn-Revere called a federal judge's 2023 order blocking the government from pressuring social media companies to censor "a win for the First Amendment."[54]

Challenges to college residence life programs

In 2007, the organization said that a mandatory program for students living in dormitories at the University of Delaware resembled "thought reform". The school suspended it.[55]

Student press

At the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, FIRE opposed university practices that required student journalists to submit their questions ahead of time or seek permission from the school before interviewing university employees. After FIRE intervened, the university revised its practices to no longer require prior approval before interviews.[56]

Campus security fees

FIRE has opposed security fees some campuses charge to groups which host controversial speakers. These fees are charged to pay for extra security, which colleges say is necessary due to the likelihood of demonstrations and disruption of events.[57][58]

In March 2009, FIRE challenged a security fee charged to a UC Berkeley group for a speech by Elan Journo, who advocates for the destruction of Palestine.[58] In 2014, FIRE assisted the Kalamazoo Peace Center in its lawsuit against Western Michigan University, after the university said the peace center could only invite social activist and rapper Boots Riley to speak on campus if it paid a security fee.[59] The school settled the lawsuit and agreed to revise its policies.[60] In April 2022, FIRE challenged a security fee charged to Dartmouth College's Republican group for hosting a speech by Andy Ngo.[61]

Due process

FIRE also targets situations where students and faculty are adjudicated outside the bounds of due process afforded to them by Constitutional law or stated university policy.[62][63][64][65]

FIRE has argued for more rights for students facing sexual assault allegations.[66] In 2011, FIRE opposed the Education Department's "Dear Colleague" letter that urged universities to use a "preponderance of the evidence" standard instead of the criminal justice system's "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard in sexual assault cases.[67][66][68] In 2020, FIRE supported new rules made by the Department of Education during the Trump administration about sexual assault and harassment cases that required colleges to allow the cross-examination of accusers.[69]

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

FIRE opposes some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts on college campuses that it says infringe on the free speech and academic freedom rights of students and faculty members.[70] For example, FIRE objects to mandatory "diversity statements" that require faculty to explain their commitment to DEI as part of the hiring and evaluation process.[71] The group argues that such requirements can function as "political litmus tests" that force faculty to accept certain "political or ideological viewpoints for which there is no consensus."[72][73] It has drafted model legislation to abolish the use of diversity statements.[74][75]

In 2023, FIRE released a survey that asked 1,500 college faculty for their views on the use of diversity statements.[76] Half of the respondents said they are "a justifiable requirement for a job at a university." The other half of respondents claimed they are "an ideological litmus test that violates academic freedom," including 90 percent of conservative faculty. Later that year, FIRE filed a lawsuit against the California Community Colleges system, which the organization says forces professors to promote politicized DEI concepts.[77][78][79][80]

Public and private universities

FIRE has argued that public schools are required to uphold First Amendment protections for their students and faculty members because they are government entities.[81] Although private schools are not bound by the First Amendment, FIRE has said contractual promises they make related to free speech or academic freedom should be upheld.[82]

"Institutional neutrality"

FIRE has pushed for colleges and universities to enact "institutional neutrality" policies, which call for administrators to refrain from speaking on contentious political and social issues.[83] In February 2024, FIRE, Heterodox Academy, and the Academic Freedom Alliance released a joint open letter calling for institutional neutrality.[83]

Artificial intelligence

In February 2024, Lukianoff testified before Congress on artificial intelligence-powered censorship and propaganda tools.[84] He said, "[The] most chilling threat that the government poses in the context of emerging AI is regulatory overreach that limits its potential as a tool for contributing to human knowledge."[85][86]

Cases

Public universities

FIRE joined with a number of other civil liberties groups in the case of Hosty v. Carter, involving suppression of a student newspaper at Governors State University in Illinois,[87] and has been involved in a case at Arizona State University where it condemned the listing of certain sections of a class as open only to Native American students.[88]

FIRE sparred with the University of New Hampshire in 2004 over its treatment of student Timothy Garneau, who was expelled from student housing after he wrote and distributed a flier joking that female classmates could lose the "freshman fifteen" by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. After FIRE publicly criticized the decision, Garneau was reinstated.[89]

In May 2007, Valdosta State University expelled T. Hayden Barnes, who had protested against the construction of two new parking garages on the campus which he saw as encouraging the use of private transportation. University president Ronald Zaccari misconstrued a caption of the proposed garages as the "Ronald Zaccari Memorial Parking Garage" as a threat to himself. With FIRE support, the expulsion was overturned and a court found VSU to have violated Barnes's due process rights.[90]

In 2008, college professor Kerry Laird was ordered by Temple College to remove the quote, "Gott ist tot" (God is Dead), a famous quote from Friedrich Nietzsche, from his office door. FIRE wrote a letter to the Temple administration hinting at the possibility of legal action.[91]

In October 2011, Catawba Valley Community College suspended a student (Marc Bechtol) for complaining on Facebook about a new policy that required students to sign up for a debit card to get their student ID and grant money. CVCC decided that the comments were "disturbing" and a "threat", and used that reasoning to suspend the student. FIRE took the side of the student.[92] Charges were dropped in December 2011.[93]

In 2012, FIRE filed a lawsuit against Iowa State University (ISU) after ISU prevented the university's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws from designing T-shirts featuring the school's mascot.[94][95] The lawsuit eventually ended with nearly $1 million in damages and fees awarded.[96]

In 2014, FIRE sued Chicago State University (CSU) for trying to shut down a faculty blog critical of CSU's former administration.[97][98] The school eventually agreed to rewrite its speech policies, paying $650,000 to settle the lawsuit.[99]

In 2021, FIRE filed a First Amendment lawsuit on behalf of an Eastern Virginia Medical School student who said his free speech rights were violated when the school denied recognition to a club that he was trying to establish because it supported universal health care.[100] In March 2022, the school settled the lawsuit.[101] Later that year, the organization helped University of Washington professor Stuart Reges take action against the school after it recommended that he include a Native American "land acknowledgment" on his course syllabus.[102][103] FIRE is also representing conservative students at California-based Clovis Community College, where school administrators reportedly removed the students' anti-communism flyers from campus bulletin boards.[104]

In 2021, in response to the board of trustees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill declining to give Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure, FIRE released a statement saying "if it is accurate that this refusal was the result of viewpoint discrimination against Hannah-Jones, particularly based on political opposition to her appointment, this decision has disturbing implications for academic freedom."[105]

In September 2022, FIRE announced a lawsuit challenging Florida's Stop WOKE Act, arguing that the bill unconstitutionally suppresses certain discussions of race and sex on college campuses.[106][107] That November, a federal judge considering lawsuits by FIRE and the ACLU stopped enforcement of the higher education portions of the law, calling them "positively dystopian" and ruling that the law violates the rights of university students and faculty members.[108][109] New York Magazine's Jonathan Chait wrote that, while FIRE "has stood up against speech restriction from both the right and the left," it was notable that "the most effective opponent of left-wing political correctness" had led the effort against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' "signature campus law."[110]

In March 2023, FIRE filed a lawsuit challenging a ban on student drag shows at West Texas A&M University, which the group called an "unlawful attempt to censor students."[111] In a letter to the campus community, university president Walter Wendler called drag shows "divisive" and "demeaning" to women, despite acknowledging that the law appeared to require him to allow such shows.[112][113]

Private universities

FIRE has criticized Columbia University's sexual misconduct policy;[114] according to FIRE, the policy "lack[ed] even the most minimal safeguards and fundamental principles of fairness".[115] The criticism led to the resignation of Charlene Allen, Columbia's program coordinator for the Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Education, whose policies were at the center of the controversy.[116]

FIRE criticized Brandeis University for disciplining politics professor Donald Hindley. The school's provost informed Hindley in October 2007 that comments he made in his Latin American politics class violated the school's anti-harassment policy. Hindley was alleged to have mentioned the slur "wetback" in class during a discussion about racism toward Mexican-American immigrants. Krauss placed a monitor in Hindley's class and ordered him to attend racial sensitivity training.[117]

In 2015, FIRE defended Erika Christakis, associate master of Yale University's Silliman College, after she questioned the school's Intercultural Affairs Council for highlighting the cultural implications of Halloween costumes.[118][119]

In 2021, FIRE advocated on behalf of Stanford University student Nicholas Wallace, who satirized the Federalist Society and Republican political figures in an email to his peers.[120] Wallace's diploma was initially put on hold for the email, prompting FIRE to contact Stanford in his defense.[121] The school's investigation was ultimately dropped and Wallace was allowed to graduate.[122]

In 2022, FIRE released a series of advertisements in Boston, Massachusetts, accusing Emerson College of censoring free speech on campus.[123] The ad campaign came in response to Emerson investigating and suspending the campus chapter of Turning Point USA, which distributed stickers featuring a hammer and sickle with the caption "China Kinda Sus" (slang for "suspicious").[124][125] Emerson claimed the stickers represented "anti-China hate", while FIRE blamed the school for violating "freedom of expression".[126]

FIRE objected to Hamline University's 2022 decision to punish adjunct professor Erika López Prater after she showed students in her art history course a painting of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[127] FIRE argued this violated the professor's academic freedom rights, filing a complaint with the university's accreditor.[128][129]

Off-campus

In August 2022, FIRE defended the nonprofit group NeuroClastic, which had been threatened with a defamation lawsuit by the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center after criticizing the center's use of electro-shock devices.[130] That month, FIRE challenged the New York State Senate's practice of blocking critics on Twitter, representing a resident who had criticized gun control legislation.[131]

FIRE filed a lawsuit in December 2022 on behalf of First Amendment scholar Eugene Volokh and online platforms Rumble and Locals, challenging a New York state law that requires social networks to police hate speech on their platforms.[132] Writing in The Wall Street Journal after the lawsuit was filed, Volokh claimed, "I don't want to moderate such content and I don't endorse the state's definition of hate speech."[133] In February 2023, a federal judge blocked the law, writing that it "chills the constitutionally protected speech of social media users, without articulating a compelling governmental interest or ensuring that the law is narrowly tailored to that goal."[134][135]

In 2022, FIRE filed a lawsuit against the city of Eastpointe, Michigan and its mayor, Monique Owens.[136] The lawsuit alleged that Owens unconstitutionally shut down residents' criticism of her during the public comment period of city council meetings.[136] That December, a federal judge issued an injunction that prevented Owens from interrupting or shutting down speakers at council meetings.[137] In April 2024, the city of Eastpointe agreed to a settlement with FIRE that designated September 6th (the day that Owens shouted down residents) as “First Amendment Day."[138]

In 2024, FIRE represented an Arizona mother who was arrested at a city council meeting for criticizing a public official, with Maricopa County Judge Gerald Williams ultimately throwing out the charges.[139]

Media, advertising, and sponsorships

Since 2011, FIRE has published a list of the "worst colleges for free speech".[140]

Since 2016, FIRE has produced "So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast", hosted by Perrino.[141][142][143] FIRE partnered with Korchula Productions and the DKT Liberty Project to produce Can We Take a Joke?, a documentary released in 2016 about comedy and speech.[144][145][146]

In 2017, FIRE was listed as one of the sponsors of the conservative campus group Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit, according to tax records.[147]

In 2020, FIRE released Mighty Ira, a documentary about Ira Glasser, focusing on his advocacy for free speech and civil rights.[148][149] The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a warm portrait that poses ever-urgent questions."[150] The Times of Israel said the documentary "initiates a war between your head and your gut."[151]

In 2022, FIRE produced an advertisement featuring National Basketball Association (NBA) player Enes Kanter Freedom for the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, supporting freedom of speech.[152] Freedom also shared his personal story about censorship in his home country of Turkey.[153]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Foundation For Individual Rights And Expression Inc". projects.propublica.org. ProPublica. May 9, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Powell, Michael (June 6, 2021). "Once a Bastion of Free Speech, the A.C.L.U. Faces an Identity Crisis". The New York Times. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Capuzzi Simon, Cecilia (August 1, 2016). "Fighting for Free Speech on America's Campuses". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2019. FIRE receives funding from the Bradley Foundation, the Sarah Scaife Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute.
  4. ^ Rutz, David (February 3, 2022). "Ilya Shapiro controversy: Georgetown Law students speak out against liberal intolerance, cancel culture". Fox News. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Gerstein, Josh (June 6, 2022). "Free-speech group will spend millions to promote First Amendment cases". Politico. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: The Shadow University: The Betrayal of Liberty on America's Campuses by Alan Kors". www.publishersweekly.com. October 1, 1998. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  7. ^ "Addressing the status of free speech at Penn". The Daily Pennsylvanian. November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Strausbaugh, John (August 19, 2007). "A Maverick Mogul, Proudly Politically Incorrect". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  9. ^ Kolowich, Steve (April 27, 2018). "State of Conflict: How a tiny protest at the U. of Nebraska turned into a proxy war for the future of campus politics". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via chronicle.com.
  10. ^ French, David (April 11, 2022). "Free Speech for Me but Not for Thee". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Colleges settle free speech lawsuits as FIRE promises more litigation". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Young, Cathy (June 7, 2022). "The ACLU Just Got Some Much-Needed Free Speech Competition". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Gillespie, Nick; Taylor, Regan (June 23, 2022). "As the ACLU Recedes From Its Core Mission, FIRE Expands To Fill the Void". Reason.com. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  14. ^ Sleeper, Jim (October 19, 2016). "The Conservatives Behind the Campus 'Free Speech' Crusade". The American Prospect. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  15. ^ Gerstein, Josh (June 6, 2022). "Free-speech group will spend millions to promote First Amendment cases". Politico. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "Here's What You Need To Know About Hef and His Philanthropy | Inside Philanthropy". www.insidephilanthropy.com. January 12, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Dorsey, Jack. "NEW #startsmall tracker". X.
  18. ^ a b "Sick of Cancel Culture? One Man Has a Surprising Solution". POLITICO. October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "FIRE announces $75 million expansion into off-campus free speech advocacy, defense". FIRE. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "Killer Mike goes off: 'Right now, in this country, your freedom of speech is at risk'". Los Angeles Times. April 28, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  21. ^ "Killer Mike Says Free Speech In America Is 'At Risk' During Keynote Address". BET. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Meagher Jr., Richard J. "Foundation for Individual Rights in Education". www.mtsu.edu. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  23. ^ Simon, Cecilia Capuzzi (August 1, 2016). "Fighting for Free Speech on America's Campuses". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  24. ^ "Opinion | Please, Georgetown. Don't fire an academic over tweets". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  25. ^ Karp, Jack (February 2, 2022). "Bar Group Wants Prof Fired For 'Lesser Black Woman' Tweets". law360.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  26. ^ "Our People". FIRE. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  27. ^ Schlott, Rikki (September 12, 2023). "Colleges make Gen Z mental health crisis worse with safe spaces". Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  28. ^ "NBA star tests NBC again with freedom speech". Washington Examiner. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  29. ^ FIRE (September 8, 2022). "'He asked me to kneel.' FIRE launches ad campaign during NFL season opener, highlighting Colin Kaepernick-Nate Boyer story". FIRE. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Paull, Laura (December 23, 2020). "ACLU free-speech icon Ira Glasser profiled in new film". J. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  31. ^ "Free to State with Paul Clement, Jonah Goldberg, Stephen Hayes & Nadine Strossen". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  32. ^ "Nadine Strossen". New York Law School. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  33. ^ "88 Percent of Colleges in U.S. Have Restrictions on Free Speech: Report". Newsweek. December 8, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  34. ^ LOPEZ, MARIAH. "Fordham's Free Speech Ranking Remains Low". The Observer. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  35. ^ Gryboski, Michael (December 16, 2022). "Number of colleges with heavy restrictions on free speech rises". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  36. ^ Polumbo, Brad (December 15, 2022). "After a 15-year decline, more colleges have become hostile to free speech". New York Post. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  37. ^ Troutman, Elizabeth (September 28, 2023). "Free speech group gives Hillsdale warning status". Hillsdale Collegian. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  38. ^ "Opinion | Against the Censors—No Matter Which Ones". Wall Street Journal. October 25, 2023. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  39. ^ Gould, Jon B. (April 2007). "Returning Fire". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  40. ^ "The Worst Campus in America for Free Speech". RealClearEducation.com. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  41. ^ "Free Speech Rankings". rankings.thefire.org. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  42. ^ "US students 'becoming more tolerant' of free speech". Times Higher Education (THE). September 7, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  43. ^ "UVA No. 1 in National College Free Speech Rankings". news.virginia.edu. September 5, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  44. ^ Cristantiello, Ross. "Harvard comes in dead last in nationwide free speech rankings". www.boston.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  45. ^ "Pierce College's 'free speech zone' will expand after LA Community College District settles lawsuit with student". Daily News. December 14, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  46. ^ "Georgia passes law banishing free speech zones". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  47. ^ Zick, Timothy (2009). Speech Out of Doors: Preserving First Amendment Liberties in Public Places. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 278. ISBN 9780521517300.
  48. ^ Hermosillo, By María Méndez and Maria Probert (April 24, 2024). "Here's what the law says about protesting on Texas college campuses". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  49. ^ Camp, Emma (July 9, 2024). "What free speech rights do anti-Israel activists have on college campuses?". Reason.com. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  50. ^ "US student protests challenge balance of speech rights, university policies". Voice of America. August 2, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  51. ^ Strossen, Nadine; Cohn, Joe (September 13, 2023). "Here's how to stop government end-runs around the First Amendment". The Hill. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  52. ^ "Court rules Biden administration engaged in illegal censorship — now what?". Washington Examiner. September 12, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  53. ^ Beinkampen, Kate (October 25, 2023). "The Supreme Court Must Protect Businesses from Bullying Governmental Efforts to Censor Citizens' Dissenting Viewpoints". American Enterprise Institute - AEI. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  54. ^ Corn-Revere, Robert (July 16, 2023). "A win for the First Amendment, and a loss for partisans who want to weaponize censorship". Reason.com. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  55. ^ "U. of Delaware Halts Residence-Life Program That Was Criticized as 'Thought Reform'". www.chronicle.com. November 2, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  56. ^ Kelley, Anya (March 30, 2022). "A-T challenges UMC interview guidelines". The Advance-Titan. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  57. ^ "UC Berkeley to settle free speech lawsuit for $70K". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  58. ^ a b Egelko, Bob (March 29, 2009). "Campus security bills for speakers challenged". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  59. ^ "Lawsuit says WMU policies restrict free speech, prevented Boots Riley visit to campus". mlive. October 23, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  60. ^ "WMU to pay $35,000 to settle free-speech lawsuit filed by Kalamazoo Peace Center". mlive. May 5, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  61. ^ "FIRE Demands Dartmouth Rescind College Republicans Fee | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  62. ^ Miller, John (October 24, 2005). "Pariahs, Martyrs — and Fighters Back". National Review.
  63. ^ Kellner, Mark. "Student sues university over 'no-contact' orders after Christian statements". The Washington Times. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  64. ^ "Conservative Students Sue Clovis Community College | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  65. ^ "USF student, professor file lawsuit challenging Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  66. ^ a b Orso, Anna (January 19, 2017). "PolitiFact - Trump's education pick donated to Philly group with controversial campus rape stance". @politifact. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  67. ^ "Former U-Va. law student files suit challenging federal sexual assault directive". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  68. ^ "2011 Dear Colleague Letter Critic Adam Kissel Hired by Dept. of Education". Campus Safety Magazine. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  69. ^ Meckler, Laura. "Betsy DeVos poised to issue sweeping rules governing campus sexual assault". The Washington Post.
  70. ^ Powell, Michael (September 8, 2023). "D.E.I. Statements Stir Debate on College Campuses". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  71. ^ Flaherty, Colleen. "Academic Freedom Alliance Opposes Diversity Statements". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  72. ^ whyevolutionistrue (February 24, 2023). "FIRE drafts a model "intellectual freedom protection act" for states". Why Evolution Is True. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  73. ^ Trivedi, Isha. "More Colleges Are Adding Diversity to Tenure Standards. But the Debate's Not Settled". The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  74. ^ "Is the tide turning on DEI?". UnHerd. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  75. ^ "GOP states targeting diversity, equity efforts in higher education". April 17, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  76. ^ Marijolovic, Kate. "Professors Are Sharply Divided on DEI Statements in Hiring, Survey Finds". The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  77. ^ Weissman, Sara. "California Community College Professors Sue Over DEI Rules". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  78. ^ Asimov, Nanette. "First Amendment lawsuits challenge state's DEI rules for community colleges". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  79. ^ Lonas, Lexi (September 1, 2023). "California community college professors sue over diversity, equity and inclusion rules". The Hill. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  80. ^ Friedersdorf, Conor (October 13, 2023). "A Uniquely Terrible New DEI Policy". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  81. ^ "The 10 Worst Colleges For Free Speech: 2017". HuffPost. February 22, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  82. ^ "Watchdog group puts colleges on notice over First Amendment". Deseret News. July 24, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  83. ^ a b Quinn, Ryan (October 10, 2024). "What's Behind the Push for 'Institutional Neutrality'?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  84. ^ "Hearing on the Weaponization of the Federal Government | House Judiciary Committee Republicans". judiciary.house.gov. February 5, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  85. ^ "WRITTEN TESTIMONY of GREG LUKIANOFF" (PDF). Congress.gov.
  86. ^ "AI and Technologies of Freedom in the Age of "Weaponized" Government". R Street Institute. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  87. ^ "Amicus Briefs". ffeusa.org. Feminists for Free Expression. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  88. ^ Jaschik, Scott (October 7, 2005). "Arizona State Ends Class Limited to Native Americans". Inside Higher Ed. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  89. ^ Kennedy, Dan (July 1, 2005). "The Eighth Annual Muzzle Awards: Dishonorable mentions". Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  90. ^ Lipka, Sara (September 7, 2010). "Former College President Is Found Personally Liable for Expelling Student". Students. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  91. ^ Jaschik, Scott (November 7, 2008). "College Ends Ban on Nietzsche Quote". Inside Higher Ed. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  92. ^ "Facebook post gets college student banned from N.C. campus". News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. October 13, 2011. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011.
  93. ^ "Update: Charges Dropped, Unconstitutional Policy Remains". The Huffington Post. December 13, 2011. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  94. ^ Charis-Carlson, Jeff. "Iowa State University loses appeal in marijuana T-shirt case". Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  95. ^ Connor, Alex. "NORML ISU wins lawsuit after four-year battle". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  96. ^ "Iowa State marijuana T-shirt battle to cost state nearly $1 million". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  97. ^ "Chicago State Agrees To Pay $650K To Settle Blog Lawsuit". www.cbsnews.com. January 9, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  98. ^ "Professors Win First Amendment Lawsuit, Chicago State University Settles for $650,000". Reason.com. January 8, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  99. ^ "Chicago State to pay $650K to end lawsuit over faculty blog criticizing school leaders". Chicago Tribune. January 8, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  100. ^ "East Virginia Medical School Settles First Amendment Lawsuit | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  101. ^ "EVMS settles lawsuit over single-payer healthcare student group". The Virginian-Pilot. March 24, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  102. ^ Sheppard, Cameron (July 26, 2022). "UW professor sues school over indigenous land acknowledgment". Kent Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  103. ^ Chi-Sing, Haley (July 14, 2022). "University of Washington professor sues school, alleging free-speech violation". New York Post. Fox News. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  104. ^ "Conservative Students Win Injunction on Campus Flier Policy | Inside Higher Ed". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  105. ^ Serwer, Adam (May 21, 2021). "Why Conservatives Want to Cancel the 1619 Project". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  106. ^ Palmer, Ewan (September 7, 2022). "Ron DeSantis faces Florida lawsuit over anti-woke law". Newsweek. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  107. ^ "Fourth lawsuit filed to challenge DeSantis' 'Stop WOKE Act'". Orlando Sentinel. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  108. ^ Andrew Atterbury (November 17, 2022). "'Positively dystopian': Florida judge blocks DeSantis' anti-woke law for colleges". POLITICO. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  109. ^ "Federal judge blocks DeSantis-backed Stop WOKE Act, calling it 'positively dystopian'". The News Service of Florida. November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  110. ^ Chait, Jonathan (November 18, 2022). "First Amendment: 1, Ron DeSantis: 0 - Judge smacks down Florida law ending academic freedom". Intelligencer (NYmag.com). Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  111. ^ Carter, Simone. "West Texas A&M President Sued Over Drag Show Censorship". Dallas Observer. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  112. ^ Camp, Emma (March 24, 2023). "This college president knows the First Amendment protects the drag show he canceled. He just doesn't care". Reason.com. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  113. ^ "Texas campus bans drag show". Times Higher Education (THE). March 22, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  114. ^ Arenson, Karen (October 5, 2000). "New Procedure for Handling Sexual Misconduct Charges at Columbia University Is Challenged". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
  115. ^ Schifrin, Nick (October 5, 2000). "Outside Groups Attack New Misconduct Policy]". Columbia Spectator. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  116. ^ Lieberman, Tallie (April 30, 2001). "Allen Resignation Met with Surprise". Columbia Spectator. Retrieved June 19, 2022 – via Columbia Spectator Archive.
  117. ^ "Brandeis Professor says his Right to Free Speech Violated; Students took offense to his use of word in class". Boston.com. July 1, 2005. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  118. ^ Wang, Monica; Wang, Victor (November 5, 2015). "Students confront Christakis about Halloween email". Yale Daily News. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  119. ^ "Watch Students Tell Yale to Fire a Staffer Who Upset Their Safe Space". Reason.com. November 6, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  120. ^ "A Stanford student bashed the Federalist Society with a satirical flier. He nearly missed getting his diploma". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  121. ^ Greene, Jenna (June 8, 2021). "Just kidding! How a Stanford 3L got the last laugh against the Federalist Society". Reuters. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  122. ^ Stern, Mark Joseph (June 2, 2021). "Update: Law Student Who Made Fun of the Federalist Society Will Be Allowed to Graduate After All". Slate Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  123. ^ "Emerson College targeted by ad campaign for suspending student group behind 'China Kinda Sus' stickers". NextShark. January 20, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via news.yahoo.com.
  124. ^ "Right-wing student group suspended over 'anti-China' stickers". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  125. ^ "Conservative student group blackballed by Massachusetts college for 'anti-China hate'". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  126. ^ "Turning Point Chapter Warned for Distributing China Stickers | Inside Higher Ed". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  127. ^ "Hamline University Makes '10 Worst Colleges For Free Speech' List". Minneapolis, MN Patch. February 10, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  128. ^ "FIRE Files Academic Freedom Complaint With Hamline University's Accrediting Agency". Reason.com. January 5, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  129. ^ "Complaint filed with Hamline's accreditor after professor's dismissal over art depicting Prophet Muhammad". Yahoo News. January 5, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  130. ^ Camp, Emma (August 31, 2022). "A psychiatric facility punishes residents with painful electric shocks. Now it's trying to sue its critics". Reason.com. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  131. ^ "The World and Everything in It: September 5, 2022". WORLD. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  132. ^ "Rumble and Law Professor Sue New York Attorney General to Block Online Hate Speech Law, Calling It a First Amendment 'Double Whammy'". Law & Crime. December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  133. ^ Volokh, Eugene (December 2022). "Opinion | New York State Wants to Conscript Me to Violate the Constitution". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  134. ^ Gryboski, Michael (February 17, 2023). "Judge blocks New York social media 'hate speech' law over First Amendment concerns". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  135. ^ Camp, Emma (February 16, 2023). "District court halts New York law forcing online platforms to 'respond' to 'hateful' speech". Reason.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  136. ^ a b "Eastpointe residents sue city, say mayor suppressed their comments at meetings". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  137. ^ Neavling, Steve. "Eastpointe mayor agrees to shut up when criticized during meetings following lawsuit". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  138. ^ Neavling, Steve. "Eastpointe agrees to unique settlement after ex-mayor's public meeting outburst". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  139. ^ Ciaramella, C. J. (October 25, 2024). "Judge throws out charges against Arizona mom arrested for criticizing officials at a city council meeting". Reason.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  140. ^ "Stanford, Georgetown, U. of Florida listed among 10 'worst free speech colleges' in U.S." UPI.com. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  141. ^ "Week 3: Can Protests Make A Difference? | Indivisible". WNYC. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  142. ^ Perrino, Nico (September 16, 2021). "So to Speak podcast: Matt Taibbi, Nadine Strossen, and Amna Khalid respond to 'On the Media' free speech critiques". FIRE. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  143. ^ Taibbi, Matt. "Podcast: Discussing Free Speech on "So to Speak"". taibbi.substack.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  144. ^ Evans, Greg (April 1, 2016). "Samuel Goldwyn Films Acquires Docu, Asks 'Can We Take A Joke?'". Deadline. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  145. ^ Scheck, Frank (December 1, 2015). "'Can We Take a Joke?': DOC NYC Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  146. ^ "Comedy, Outrage, and Free Speech: Can We Take A Joke is Available for Download Now!". Reason.com. August 2, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  147. ^ "Who Funds Conservative Campus Group Turning Point USA?". International Business Times. November 28, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  148. ^ ""Mighty Ira:" A Documentary About The Man Who Defined American Civil Liberties". News. October 23, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  149. ^ Tonguette, Peter. "Film 'Mighty Ira' brings free-speech issues to screen at Columbus Jewish Film Festival". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  150. ^ Linden, Sheri (October 7, 2020). "'Mighty Ira': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  151. ^ Hoffman, Jordan. "Film explores why a Jewish former ACLU head defended Nazis' right to free speech". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  152. ^ Packer, George (February 16, 2022). "We Are All Realists Now". The Atlantic. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  153. ^ "Chinese Media Gloat about PRC Influence on the NBA as Enes Kanter Freedom Is Cut". National Review. February 13, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2024.