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TCU Reinstates Student Suspended for Facebook and Twitter Posts
Late yesterday, Texas Christian University (TCU) student Harry Vincent that the institution has reversed a suspension levied against him in May for Twitter and Facebook posts about the protests in Baltimore, the threat of terrorism, and the spread of the 鈥淚slamic State鈥 that offended individuals off campus. According to Vincent, although his suspension has been lifted, he remains on disciplinary probation. FIREis pleased that the suspension has been lifted but maintains that any disciplinary action based solely on the content of Vincent鈥檚 tweets is inappropriate.
Have been reinstated as a student at #TCU under disciplinary probation- no suspension. Thanks for all the support #FreedomWins
鈥 Harry Vincent (鈥廆ClassyPatriot)
FIRE wrote TCU last week to protest Vincent鈥檚 suspension and issued a press release about Vincent鈥檚 ordeal last week. As we wrote in our press release:
TCU suspended student Harry Vincent for commentary posted to his personal Facebook and Twitter profiles related to current events, including the protests in Baltimore, the threat of terrorism, and the spread of the 鈥淚slamic State.鈥 The suspension comes after a non-student, using the name 鈥淜elsey鈥 and apparently living in Maryland, created a post on her Tumblr page containing screenshots of a selection of Vincent鈥檚 posts. Kelsey labeled Vincent鈥檚 commentary 鈥渞acist鈥 and 鈥渄isgusting鈥 and asked readers to contact TCU to report his speech.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (果冻传媒app官方) wrote to TCU today to urge the university to reverse the charges and sanctions applied to Vincent for his protected extracurricular expression. FIREalso expressed dismay with TCU鈥檚 violation of Vincent鈥檚 due process rights, which included coercing an apology from him prior to any determination of guilt.
鈥淚f TCU no longer believes student rights are important, it should just come out and say so,鈥 said Ari Cohn, an attorney and Senior Program Officer for Legal and Public Advocacy at 果冻传媒app官方. 鈥淭ricking students into attending TCU by making glowing promises of free speech and due process rights鈥攐nly to go back on those promises following unreasonable demands from someone who doesn鈥檛 even attend the school鈥攊s shocking and itself offensive to the most basic sense of fairness. TCU should reverse its action against Harry Vincent immediately.鈥
Following 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 intervention, the case received media attention from a variety of outlets, including the , , and 鈥 Todd Starnes.
FIRE is pleased to learn of this result and will have more commentary on the case in the days to come.
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