Linfield College: Student Group鈥檚 Event Canceled Due to Speaker鈥檚 Tweet
Cases
Linfield University
Case Overview
On April 18, 2017, University of Toronto professor Dr. Jordan Peterson tweeted that he would be 鈥渧iolating some more safe spaces soon鈥 at Linfield College. Linfield鈥檚 Young Americans for Liberty chapter had invited Peterson to speak at the college鈥檚 鈥淪peak Freely Series,鈥 scheduled for April 24. The next day, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Susan Agre-Kippenhan informed the campus community that Peterson would no longer be allowed to speak at Linfield, claiming his tweet showed 鈥渋nten[t] to violate the safety of our community鈥 and constituted 鈥渢he use or threat of force鈥 or 鈥渉arassment.鈥 On June 9, FIREwrote to Linfield president Thomas Hellie to remind the college of its commitment to 鈥渢he principles underlying constitutionally protected free expression.鈥