Did You Know? More Than 50 Colleges Have Embraced Free Speech Protections

Jul 11, 2019 · · No Comments on Did You Know? More Than 50 Colleges Have Embraced Free Speech Protections

The Chicago Statement, or the Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression, is a 2014 statement defining the University of Chicago’s stance on freedom of speech. The statement set a strong precedent favoring free speech protections when many colleges were moving away from such protections and capitulating to student-led mobs who demanded “offensive” speakers … Continue reading “Did You Know? More Than 50 Colleges Have Embraced Free Speech Protections”

How NC State Became Free-Speech Friendly

Apr 15, 2019 · · No Comments on How NC State Became Free-Speech Friendly

Free speech on North Carolina’s campuses has come a long way in the last decade. North Carolina State University is the most recent school to earn a “green light” from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for its speech policies. Nearly ten years ago, when the Martin Center partnered with FIRE to take … Continue reading “How NC State Became Free-Speech Friendly”

Generation Z: The Intolerant Ones

Jul 27, 2018 · · No Comments on Generation Z: The Intolerant Ones

The post-millennials have arrived. As the oldest millennials turn 37, demographers have designated a new generation for those born after 1996, Generation Z. The oldest members of this cohort just graduated from college and had their first (legal) alcoholic beverages. As they wind their way through college, post-millennials will change higher education, just as previous … Continue reading “Generation Z: The Intolerant Ones”

Second Annual Policy Banquet

Oct 11, 2017 · · No Comments on Second Annual Policy Banquet

Join the Martin Center for our annual policy banquet on Wednesday, October 11 at City Club Raleigh in Raleigh, North Carolina.       Our guest speaker will be Robert Shibley, executive director of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Shibley’s talk will provide insight into due process on campus – a higher … Continue reading “Second Annual Policy Banquet”

Everyone is Innocent Until Proven Guilty, Except College Students

Sep 25, 2017 · · 15 Comments on Everyone is Innocent Until Proven Guilty, Except College Students

When it comes to defending themselves against accusations, college students are fighting an uphill battle. Today, students accused of misconduct are often subjected to long and invasive investigation processes without the right to legal representation, to question witnesses, or to be presumed innocent until proven guilty—all basic due process procedures to which every student should … Continue reading “Everyone is Innocent Until Proven Guilty, Except College Students”

Student Free Speech Suffers a Defeat

Jul 21, 2017 · · 10 Comments on Student Free Speech Suffers a Defeat

Since launching its Stand Up for Free Speech project in 2014, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has had a great deal of success in defeating college officials when they interfere with the free speech of students. But you can’t win them all, and a recent decision went against FIRE and the students … Continue reading “Student Free Speech Suffers a Defeat”

Either Support Our Politics or Find Another Field

Jan 18, 2017 · · 20 Comments on Either Support Our Politics or Find Another Field

The authoritarianism that increasingly characterizes the American professoriate is on full display in a case involving the master’s program in social work at Rhode Island College (RIC). A student who did not believe that lobbying the state legislature for “progressive” causes was properly a part of his education and suffered for it has filed suit … Continue reading “Either Support Our Politics or Find Another Field”

Shouldn’t an Entire Campus Be a Free Speech Zone—Not Just .02 Percent of It?

Jan 13, 2017 · · 1 Comment on Shouldn’t an Entire Campus Be a Free Speech Zone—Not Just .02 Percent of It?

(Editor’s note: This article first appeared on Forbes.com.) Hostility to free speech has become a salient characteristic of American college campuses. Speech codes that make it dangerous for students (or anyone else) to say things that might be regarded as offensive or “harassing” are all too common—even though the codes have been found to violate … Continue reading “Shouldn’t an Entire Campus Be a Free Speech Zone—Not Just .02 Percent of It?”

Faculty Senate Shrugged

Aug 5, 2016 · · 3 Comments on Faculty Senate Shrugged

Politics is on many people’s minds this year, so this is a good time to write about that topic. But the politics I’m thinking about does not involve the presidency. Rather, I’m thinking about the politics of shared governance in higher education—specifically, the relationship between university senates and their administrations. While shared governance sounds like … Continue reading “Faculty Senate Shrugged”

NC State Continues to Defend Unconstitutional Policy

Jul 18, 2016 · · 1 Comment on NC State Continues to Defend Unconstitutional Policy

Imagine a college student who has just formed a student group. In order to generate interest in this group, the student goes to the student union and passes out flyers for the inaugural meeting. According to North Carolina State University, this student has just violated campus policy by failing to gain prior approval for his … Continue reading “NC State Continues to Defend Unconstitutional Policy”