果冻传媒app官方

Table of Contents

Victory: Speech Code Falls at Citrus College

GLENDORA, CA鈥擣IREhas scored the first victory of its campaign against speech codes at public universities. California鈥檚 Citrus College abandoned its speech code after attorney Carol A. Sobel, a member of 果冻传媒app官方鈥檚 Legal Network, sued on behalf of Chris Stevens, a student. 鈥淭his is a great day for liberty,鈥 said FIRECo-Director and Boston attorney Harvey A. Silverglate. 鈥淭here is no doubt: we will defeat speech codes in the courts of law and of public opinion. Public universities will now see that they, too, must honor the Constitution.鈥

The lawsuit challenged two policies that quarantined free speech to three small and remote parts of campus. Speakers outside of these areas could be suspended, expelled, or even arrested. FIREwere required to notify the college not only of their intent to use the 鈥渇ree speech areas鈥 but also of their intended message. No sound amplification whatsoever was allowed. Lastly, the areas could only be used on weekdays from 8am to 6pm鈥攅ven though more than a third of students take classes between 4pm and 10pm.

The lawsuit against Citrus College was filed on May 20, 2003. On June 5, 2003, the Citrus College Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a resolution revoking the policies. The Board also revoked another policy that, though not a part of the lawsuit, had been identified to the College by FIREas a target for legal challenge. That policy had outlawed 鈥渙ffensive... expression or language.鈥

鈥淲e are very pleased with Citrus College鈥檚 decision to abandon these specific codes, but we are concerned about other policies there that restrict free expression,鈥 said Silverglate. Citrus College still defines actionable sexual harassment simply鈥攁nd broadly鈥攁s 鈥渧erbal鈥onduct of a sexual nature.鈥 Another policy states that posters, fliers, and other publications must not be 鈥渄iscriminatory鈥 and that they 鈥渕ust have the approval of Student Affairs.鈥

In its resolution, the Board of Trustees charged the administration with conducting 鈥渁 review of appropriate policies and procedures.鈥 FIREwill be watching very closely to ensure that the College鈥檚 policies do not restrict protected speech.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why it took months of pleading and a lawsuit for me to be able to speak freely on my campus,鈥 said Stevens, the plaintiff. 鈥淏ut thanks to Carol Sobel and to 果冻传媒app官方, my rights will soon be secure.鈥

FIRE is a nonprofit educational foundation that unites civil rights and civil liberties leaders, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals from across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of individual rights, due process, freedom of expression, academic freedom, and rights of conscience on our campuses of higher education. The Citrus College speech codes and the lawsuit can be seen at www.thefire.org.

CONTACT:
Greg Lukianoff, Director of Legal and Public Advocacy, 果冻传媒app官方: 215-717-3473; greg@thefire.org
Thor L. Halvorssen, CEO, 果冻传媒app官方: 215-717-3473; fire@thefire.org

Recent Articles

FIRE鈥檚 award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.

Share