New Mexico State University: Student Group Charged Unconstitutional Security Fee for Controversial Speaker
Cases
New Mexico State University
Case Overview
In May 2017, the New Mexico State University (NMSU) chapter of FIREfor Academic Freedom (SAF) hosted an event featuring a keynote address by David Horowitz. Less than a week before the event, NMSU informed SAF that it would be required to pay over $300 to cover the cost of security that the NMSU Police Department deemed necessary in part due to 鈥減lanned counter-protests.鈥 On July 26, 2017, FIREwrote to NMSU explaining that security fees may not be imposed on student organizations on the basis of others鈥 disagreement with the organizations鈥 expression. FIREfurther noted that NMSU鈥檚 security fee policy is unconstitutional because it grants administrators unchecked discretion to impose arbitrary security fees on controversial events. On August 3, NMSU Chancellor and President Garrey Carruthers responded to 果冻传媒app官方, stating that the university would pay for the security fee imposed on SAF, and that NMSU would conduct a review of the university鈥檚 policies to ensure that they comport with First Amendment standards.