Table of Contents
Statement on the Recent Fraternity Controversy at the University of Oklahoma
Recently uncovered reportedly featuring members and guests of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter at the University of Oklahoma singing a racist song on a bus has raised the question of whether the song constitutes protected expression under the First Amendment. Unless there are more factors of which we are not yet aware, the answer is yes.
As a private organization, the SAE national fraternity is free to punish the chapter, as it has done. Other citizens and groups are free to refuse to associate with the fraternity members based on their expression, and students, faculty, and administrators may of course condemn it. If the expression itself is evidence of other unlawful activity, such activity may be investigated. But the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled time and time again that government institutions like the University of Oklahoma may not punish people for expression protected by the First Amendment.
Recent Articles
Get the latest free speech news and analysis from Â鶹´«Ã½IOS.
Â鶹´«Ã½IOS Reacts -- Where does Harvard go from here? With Larry Summers
Podcast
2025 has not been kind to Harvard. To date, the Trump administration , demanding violations of free speech, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy in return for restoring the funding. In response, Harvard , raising First Amendment claims. ...
How America’s top tribal arts college silenced a student — and made him homeless
Why Â鶹´«Ã½IOS is suing Secretary of State Rubio — and what our critics get wrong about noncitizens’ rights
