A conservative-championed campus free speech bill will get its first substantial debate in the N.C. General Assembly this week. <\/p>\n
Members of a House education committee are scheduled to consider House Bill 527 Wednesday afternoon, draft legislation pushed by Republicans in recent years to curtail demonstrations against conservative speeches on college campuses. <\/p>\n
The bill requires neutrality from UNC universities and, notably, prohibits campus protests that, according to the draft,infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity. <\/p>\n
The GOP-sponsored bill comes at the behest of Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who announced his intentions to urge such reforms this February.Such legislation has the backing of right-wing pundits who say conservative speakers have been harassed on generally left-leaning college campus, but its likely to earn the scrutiny of groups like the ACLU. <\/p>\n
Anyone who feels as if their rights are violated would have the right to sue the university for damages and court costs under the GOP bill. <\/p>\n
The GOP legislation also creates a so-called Committee on Free Expression, which would include 11 members of the Republican-controlled UNC Board of Governors. That committee would prepare annual reports detailing: <\/p>\n
A description of any barriers to or disruptions of free expression within the constituent institutions. <\/p>\n
A description of the administrative handling and discipline relating to these disruptions or barriers. <\/p>\n
A description of substantial difficulties, controversies, or successes in maintaining a posture of administrative and institutional neutrality with regard to political or social issues. <\/p>\n
Any assessments, criticisms, commendations, or recommendations the Committee sees fit to include. <\/p>\n
Furthermore, campus orientation would be required to include a lesson on campus free speech as well. <\/p>\n
Officials with the ACLU of N.C. told Policy Watch they are tracking the legislation closely. <\/p>\n
The constitutional right to free expression and assembly is fundamental to our democracy, ACLU-N.C. Policy Director Sarah Gillooly said in a statement Wednesday. Proposals to enshrine those rights into state law must be clear and precise. We look forward to discussing the bill with lawmakers in the days to come. <\/p>\n
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\nNC lawmakers to take up GOP-championed campus free speech bill - The Progressive Pulse<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"