Foundation for Individual Rights in Education – Official Site

Press Release December 18, 2013

Modesto Junior College (MJC) has agreed to suspend enforcement of its free speech zone as it negotiates an end to a federallawsuitfiled by a student prevented from handing out copies of the Constitution on campus on Constitution Day. A jointstipulationfiled in federal district court yesterday by MJC and attorneys for student Robert Van Tuinen states that the parties have agreed on several significant revisions to the colleges free speech policies and procedures, pending final approval by the Yosemite Community College District, expected this spring. Read Full Article

Yesterday evening, 11 organizations joined the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) in filing anamici curiae(friends of the court)briefin thecaseofBarnes v. Zaccari. The brief asks the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to reverse a federal district courtsSeptember 2010 rulingdismissing former Valdosta State University (VSU) student Hayden Barnes First Amendment claim against former VSU President Ronald M. Zaccari. In May 2007, Zaccari expelled Barnes for peacefully protesting Zaccaris plan to construct two parking garages on campus, calling acollageBarnes posted on his personal Facebook page a threatening document andlabelingBarnes a clear and present danger to VSU. Read Full Article

Oregon State University (OSU) joins an elite group of colleges and universities by becoming just the sixteenth school in the country to receive FIREs highest, green light rating for free speech. OSU earns its rating after eliminating its only remaining speech code earlier this year. It is Oregons first-ever green light school. Read Full Article

FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for December 2013: Virginia State University. According to Virginia States student conduct code, students may not offend ... a member of the campus community. This policy violates the U.S. Supreme Courts explicit holding that [i]f there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable. Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 414 (1989). As a public university, Virginia State is legally bound to uphold its students First Amendment rights, which this policy clearly violates. Read Full Article

Harvey Silverglate has always had an inclination toward free speech. In our latest video, FIREs Co-founder and Chairman of the Board talks about what led him to a career fighting censorship. He also tackles such subjects as his alma mater Harvard Universitys deception when it comes to academic freedom and what label people give him that makes him laugh the most. Read Full Article

Free speech is important on campus. Tell us why, and you could win a $10,000 college scholarship! High school juniors and seniors planning on attending college are invited to enter FIREs essay contest. Winners will receive one of nine college scholarships worth $10,000, $5,000, $1,000, or $500. Enter by January 1, 2014. Read Full Article

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Foundation for Individual Rights in Education - Official Site