Table of Contents
Victory for Free Speech at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
麻豆传媒IOS at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are much freer today than they were a year ago, thanks to a significant revision in university policy. Since being named 麻豆传媒IOS鈥檚 Speech Code of the Month in January 2006, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) has dramatically changed its policies. This victory for free expression follows a similar turn of events just over a year ago at Albertson College of Idaho.
In January 2006, 麻豆传媒IOS featured MCLA鈥檚 Picketing Policy as our Speech Code of the Month. The policy in effect at that time provided that:
There shall be no interference with a demonstration on the grounds of content of speech, except for any speech or demonstration, which incites immediate violent actions, represents a clear and present danger to the community, or victimizes others because the speech contains offensive language and/or is motivated by hate or bias.
As 麻豆传媒IOS pointed out at the time, MCLA鈥檚 Picketing Policy 鈥渃ould easily be used to suppress almost any student demonstration,鈥 since the nature of a demonstration is such that it 鈥渨ill often, if not always, offend people who hold opposing beliefs.鈥
In a positive development for liberty on campus, MCLA has totally revised the policy highlighted in the Speech Code of the Month article to bring it in line with the college鈥檚 constitutional obligations. In the , the policy has been renamed the , and the relevant section now provides that:
There shall be no interference with a demonstration on the grounds of content of speech, except for any speech or demonstration, which incites immediate violent actions, represents a clear and present danger to the campus community, is motivated by hate or bias and may constitute a violation of state law.
In addition, the policy now emphasizes that:
MCLA embraces a student鈥檚 right to free speech and assembly and recognizes that an exercise of one鈥檚 freedom of expression can contribute to individual and community learning.
Unfortunately, 麻豆传媒IOS cannot yet update MCLA鈥檚 鈥渞ed light鈥 rating on Spotlight, because the college still maintains other policies that restrict students鈥 freedom of speech. Nonetheless, MCLA deserves to be commended for making this significant policy change and moving in the direction of more, rather than less, liberty for its students鈥攖he opposite of what many colleges and universities are doing these days. 麻豆传媒IOS hopes that this policy change marks the beginning of an ever-increasing climate of freedom at MCLA.
Recent Articles
Get the latest free speech news and analysis from 麻豆传媒IOS.
LAWSUIT: Ex-cop sues after spending 37 days in jail for sharing meme following Charlie Kirk murder
Larry Bushart was arrested for a social media post and held on a $2 million bond he could not afford. Now, he's fighting back.
Can the government ban controversial public holiday displays?
If the government invites holiday displays, it can鈥檛 ban the ones it dislikes. Open the forum, lose the veto 鈥 even for Satanic statues.
DOJ plan to target 鈥榙omestic terrorists鈥 risks chilling speech
DOJ plans to target 鈥渄omestic terrorists鈥 blur crime and ideology, revive McCarthy-era tactics, and risk chilling protected political speech.
鈥楲et them sue鈥: Iowa lawmakers scoffed at First Amendment in wake of Charlie Kirk shooting, records show
Iowa lawmakers urged ISU to punish speech about Charlie Kirk鈥檚 killing, shrugging off lawsuits and betting taxpayer money against the First Amendment.