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Student Papers at U of Alabama, U of Vermont Demonstrate the Value of a Free Press

In case Torch readers wanted more examples of the value of a free student press on college and university campuses, recent columns in student newspapers at the University of Alabama (UA) and the University of Vermont (UVM) fit the bill. Earlier in the week, as part of 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 Free Press Week coverage, I highlighted our key cases from the past year defending the rights of student journalists and press outlets. Now, these well-crafted columns at UA and UVM, which call on their respective institutions to restore First Amendment rights to the student body, further showcase the importance of free press rights on campus.

Maxton Thoman of the UA student paper The Crimson White the university鈥檚 repeated failures to uphold students鈥 freedom of speech, and decries the apparent level of apathy among the student body toward these incidents. As Thoman points out:

Two weeks ago, the story broke about the Bama FIREfor Life鈥檚 display being removed from the Ferguson Center, and it picked up significant press. People started talking, columns were written, and everyone seemed up in arms. This week, I鈥檝e barely heard anything of it.

A year ago, the Harlem Shake was shut down before it even began. Again, everyone was up in arms. Weeks later, not only had the Harlem Shake been forgotten, but also our dismay at this administration.

These are excellent points; if students wish to safeguard their basic free speech rights, they must not forget about such incidents and simply allow the university to move on, without revising its policies and practices. And indeed, UA has had more than its share of First Amendment problems over the past few years, which is why the university earned its place in our list of the 鈥淲orst Colleges for Free Speech鈥 in 2013. Therefore, Thoman writes:

In my short two years here at The University of Alabama, I鈥檝e seen a lot of talk on the topic of free speech and how it pertains to our ground use policies, but I鈥檝e seen no action. Frankly, I鈥檓 sick and tired of it.

As a collective student body, we need to take these Student Government Association elections as seriously as possible, electing only those who will demand transparency and fight for student liberties, and demand a recall on grounds use and student liberties, so that we can enact exact and overarching revisions to this university鈥檚 mentality on free speech.

It鈥檚 time for change.

While Thoman makes this stirring call for increased student involvement, another student newspaper column examines similar issues at UVM. , Braden Keiser states:

The right to free speech and media is a testament of American democracy. The Cynic鈥檚 130th anniversary as a student voice marks not only the tradition of speech, but also the commitment of the University to a student鈥檚 right to voice and information.

But, as in any anniversary, we must examine and reflect upon such commitments: has the university supported the students鈥 voice in an unequivocal and uninhibited manner?

Keiser goes on to highlight UVM鈥檚 鈥測ellow light鈥 rating in 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 Spotlight database, based on three separate policies that infringe upon students鈥 First Amendment rights. These policies run counter not only to UVM鈥檚 legal obligations as a public university, but also to whatever 鈥渃ommitments鈥 to students鈥 鈥渞ight to voice and information鈥 have existed at UVM over the years, as well as any culture of free speech that exists among the student body, writers for the Cynic included.

The good news for both UA and UVM, of course, is that FIREis always ready to assist universities with improving their policies to better protect campus discourse. We would love nothing more than to help both of these schools get rid of their current speech codes.

In the meantime, student columns such as these are valuable in pushing the issue forward and reminding fellow students about the need to stay vigilant about their First Amendment rights. Our thanks to Braden Keiser of The Vermont Cynic and Maxton Thoman of The Crimson White for their efforts!

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