First the ACLU objected, then the Chancellor for the Nevada Higher Education System—now faculty are joining the calls to scrap the proposed “anti-bias” policy. The policy as written prohibits both genuine harassment and “written or verbal acts of intimidation, coercion, interference” when motivated by bias against a particular group. Professors, rightly, are worried that the language could be used to restrict speech that is merely disrespectful or controversial. One professor, Brian Spangelo, worries that “I might mention that embryonic tissue is the best place to find the cells that would be best for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Possibly, a student could be offended by that. One of the options on the policy is to call the police."
Like many of what are commonly referred to as “anti-bias” policies, the UNLV policy goes too far and prohibits speech that is both constitutionally protected.