UNH Students Reject Restrictions
Over the summer, several politicians attacked a UNH professor for his views on the events of 9/11. Earlier this week, the student government at UNH made it clear that while they may not agree with every theory a faculty member has, they don’t want faculty to feel they cannot discuss controversial issues. Their resolution makes it clear that students want a free exchange of ideas between faculty and students. Read the article.

Summer 2006 Stories:

Judge Issues Injunction in Student Press Case
A federal judge has issued an injunction against a NJ community college’s attempt to remove the student paper’s advisor. The paper’s students have sued the University for removing their advisor, arguing it was an attempt to censor the paper. While the case has yet to be decided, yesterday’s injunction is a good sign. In ordering the advisor to be reinstated, the Judge argued that allowing the removal to stand would create a chilling effect. Read the article.

Report: Education Works Best With Free Exchange of Ideas
The Center and our coalition, Free Exchange on Campus, released a new report called “Campus Voices.” Throughout the spring, our staff has been on the ground speaking with faculty and students in Pennsylvania about the “Academic Bill of Restrictions.” The report finds that students and faculty learn and teach best when they have access to a free exchange of ideas, unencumbered by restrictions. For more information, read the report.

Spring 2006 Stories:

California Lawmakers Support Free Speech
This fall, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that university administrations can restrict what is published in many campus newspapers and possibly restrict what views student organizations can cover. Fortunately, some lawmakers in California are working to make sure that this precedent doesn't stifle student press in their state. Read the article.

Students Speak Out Against Academic Bill of Restrictions
For the past month, Center for Campus Free Speech organizers and our coalition partners have worked to spread the word about the Academic Bill of Restrictions (ABOR) among students in Pennsylvania. Last week, this work culminated with more than 20 students attending the Pennsylvania hearings on academic freedom, telling the legislature that they do not want ABOR in their state. Read the press release.

Coalition Condemns Horowitz's New Book
The Center for Campus Free Speech has joined a coalition of student, faculty and civil liberty groups calling itself “Free Exchange On Campus” to stop the Academic Bill of Restrictions. Recently, we joined Free Exchange members in condemning David Horowitz’s new book which attacks faculty for their personal political beliefs. Read the press release.

"Academic Freedom" Conference Is Anything But
The so-called “Students for Academic Freedom” held a conference this weekend. These proponents of the Academic Bill of Restrictions spent two days showing exactly what they’re for—restrictions on free speech in the classroom. Read our statement on the conference.

Academic Bill of Restrictions Offers Bogus Choices
In the last round of legislative sessions, the Academic Bill of Restrictions (ABOR) was introduced in 15 legislatures. This proposal is a politically motivated attempt to squelch free speech and open debate in college classrooms. UCLA Professor Russell Jacoby provides a great critique of ABOR’s “quotas for conservative thought.” Read the editorial.

Pennsylvania Hearing Fails to Show Proof of Academic Bias
After considering a proposed Academic Bill of Restrictions, the Pennsylvania House created a committee to study allegations of political bias in the classroom. As predicted, the hearings fail to show the political bias in academia that proponents of the bill claim exists. Read the article.

Fall 2005 Stories:

US Appeals Court Rules Against Students' Rights
Recently, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that university administrations can restrict what is published in many campus newspapers and possibly restrict what views student organizations can cover. Read the article.

Pennsylvania House Forms a Study Committee on Academic Bias
Coming out of a proposal for the politically motivated academic bill of restrictions, the Pennsylvania House has formed a committee to study allegations of political bias in the classroom. Though only a study committee has been formed, the academic bill of restrictions, which has been introduced in legislatures across the country, threatens to undermine free speech and academic freedom. Read the article.

Academic Bill of Restrictions Reaches Congress
After a year of attacks on campus free speech from the state level, David Horowitz's Academic Bill of Restrictions has found its way into Congress as well. Read the article.

Spring 2005 Stories:

Students for Academic Freedom - to Lie?
David Horowitz and the Students for Academic Freedom have been proven liars in their campaign for the academic bill of restrictions. InsideHigherEd.com published an article on March 15 revealing that one of Horowitz's favorite stories is a lie. A closer look at their body of "evidence" suggests that this probably isn't the only lie that Horowitz and his students for academic freedom are telling. Read the article.

Utah Valley State College Student Body VP Forced to Resign
VP Joe Vogel was pushed out of office for using student fees to bring activist Michael Moore to campus and his plans to write a book about the controversy that resulted from Moore’s visit. Following the resignation, a lawsuit alleging misuse of student fees was dropped by a fellow UVSC student. Read the story. Read The Daily Herald’s editorial. More on student fees and free speech.

Academic Bill of Restrictions Appears in Six State Legislatures
The politically motivated academic bill of restrictions has appeared in OH, IN, CA, NY, RI, and TN. This dangerous bill threatens to undermine free speech and academic freedom across the country. Learn more about the academic bill of restrictions.

Proposed Law in Utah Threatens Student Fee System
A Utah state senator has proposed a bill that would prevent students from spending their student activity fees on student organizations, programs, and perhaps even speakers. The passage of such a bill would undermine the marketplace of ideas on campus and would discourage extracurricular student activities. Read the article.

Fall 2004 Stories:

Univ. of Oklahoma Settles Lawsuit with Campus Religious Publication
The University of Oklahoma at Norman agreed to change a student fee policy that prohibited funding of "religious services of any nature," after being sued by a campus religious publication that had been denied funding under the policy. Read the story.

New University of California Fee Policy Limits Students' Ability to Fund a Wide Range of Speech
In the latest version of the University of California system fee policy, which is set to take effect in the fall, the administration has banned the use of campus-wide referenda in all funding decisions.

Fall 2003/Spring 2004 Stories:

UC System Blocks Student Government Allocation at UC-Berkeley
In an effort to promote civic engagement, the ASUC allocated $35,000 to fund a campaign against the controversial state ballot-initiative, Proposition 54. The UC administration, however, froze the funds, claiming that the ASUC is not allowed to advocate on political issues.

Southern Methodist University Censors Anti-Affirmative Action Bake Sale
Members of the Young Conservatives of Texas held a bake sale at which prices were based on the racial affiliation of the consumer. The sale was designed to illustrate the supposed injustices of Affirmative Action - White males were charged $1, white females were charged $.75, Hispanics were charged $.50, and Blacks were charged $.25. After only forty-five minutes, University officials closed the bake sale, citing various, often contradictory, reasons. Also: UC-Irvine Officials Shut Down Affirmative Action Bake Sale

AAUP Condemns Academic Bill of Rights
The American Association of University Professors issued a statement describing David Horowitz's Academic Bill of Rights as a dangerous threat to academic freedom. Read their statement