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University of Florida Earns 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 Highest Rating for Free Speech
GAINESVILLE, Fla., August 13, 2014鈥擳he University of Florida (UF) has eliminated all of its speech codes, earning the highest, 鈥済reen light鈥 rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (果冻传媒app官方). After working with FIREto ensure its policies comply with the First Amendment, UF has joined a select group of colleges and universities nationwide to earn 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 most favorable rating for free speech on campus.
鈥淔IREis very pleased to recognize the University of Florida as a national leader with regard to freedom of speech,鈥 said FIRESenior Vice President Robert Shibley. 鈥淭he university and its administration are to be commended for ensuring that UF students and faculty can freely exercise their First Amendment rights.鈥
鈥淭he University of Florida has a long tradition of upholding the First Amendment rights of our students,鈥 said UF Associate Vice President and Dean of FIREJen Day Shaw. 鈥淲e are pleased to earn 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 highest rating for our student speech-related policies.鈥
FIRE began working on speech code reform with UF administrators in May. Azhar Majeed, Director of 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 Individual Rights Education Program, and Associate Vice President Shaw led the effort.
UF becomes the 19th green light institution in 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 Spotlight database, as well as the 10th institution to improve to an overall green light rating in the past five years. This positive trend reflects growing awareness of free speech issues on campus, as well as increased cooperation between students, administrators, and 果冻传媒app官方.
鈥淭he University of Florida鈥檚 policy change demonstrates just how easy and productive it is for colleges and universities to work with FIREon their speech codes,鈥 said Majeed. 鈥淧articularly in light of the number of First Amendment lawsuits filed by students and faculty members against their institutions in the past year, we hope that more universities will choose to work with us proactively.鈥
FIRE, the nation's leading student rights organization unites civil rights and civil liberties leaders, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals from across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of individual rights, freedom of expression, academic freedom, due process, and rights of conscience at our nation鈥檚 colleges and universities. 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 efforts to preserve liberty on campuses across America can be viewed at thefire.org.
CONTACT:
Azhar Majeed, Director, Individual Rights Education Program, 果冻传媒app官方: 215-717-3473; azhar@thefire.org
Jen Day Shaw, Associate Vice President and Dean of 果冻传媒app官方, University of Florida: 352-392-1261; jends@dso.ufl.edu
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