This
morning the acting president of Soutwestern College confirmed that students and
faculty at Southwestern University were being investigated by campus police for
leaving a designated “free speech zone.”Upon review it appears that Southwestern’s “Free Expression Policies”
are some of the most restrictive in the nation.
In
addition to confining protests, rallies and other public assemblies to a small,
hidden part of campus, Southwestern’s policies seem to allow the regulation of
“buttons, badges and other insignia” worn outside of the “Free Speech
area.”The policy also prohibits
speech that could “incite others as to create a clear and present danger of violation
of District policies and procedures.”Acting President Nichols’ stated this morning that students and faculty
were being investigated for “inciting students to leave the free speech zone.
While
incitement to break the law is not constitutionally protected speech, only a
very narrow class of speech is legally incitement.To qualify the suspended faculty must have
directed a specific individual or group to “immediate lawless action.” Not only is their an apparent lack of
evidence that this is the case, but the very policy faculty and students are
accused of violating, the free speech zone, is likely unconstitutional itself.
In this
case it looks like it’s the administration breaking the law, not faculty or
students.
5550FreedomofExpression-1.pdf