The “Blueprint for Reform: Free Speech on Campus” is a policy guide for state legislators and university trustees. It underscores the essential role of free expression in higher education, advocating for policies that protect and promote open discourse, intellectual diversity, and the unfettered exchange of ideas within academic institutions.
Key Recommendations:
- Designate Entire Campus as a Free Speech Zone: Universities should ensure that all areas of the campus are open for free expression, eliminating restrictive “free speech zones” that confine speech to specific locations.
- Protect Lawful Expression: Institutions must safeguard the rights of students, faculty, and staff to engage in lawful speech without fear of disciplinary action or censorship.
- Ensure Content-Neutral Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions: Any limitations on speech should be applied uniformly, without regard to the content or viewpoint being expressed, and should serve a significant institutional interest.
- Safeguard Student Organizations: Universities should protect student groups from disciplinary actions based on their lawful expression, including those with belief-based missions, ensuring they can operate without undue interference.
- Adopt Statements Supporting Free Expression: Institutions are encouraged to endorse declarations, such as the Chicago Principles, that affirm a commitment to free speech and the open exchange of ideas.
- Implement Educational Programs on Free Speech: Universities should include free speech training as part of first-year orientation.
- Provide Legal Recourse for Violations: Universities should be held accountable for infringing on free speech rights by offering students and faculty clear legal avenues to challenge unconstitutional restrictions or penalties.
- Regularly Review and Update Policies: Institutions must periodically evaluate their policies to ensure they align with constitutional standards and evolving legal precedents on free expression.
These recommendations aim to foster a robust culture of free speech and intellectual engagement, ensuring that higher education remains a space where ideas can be freely explored, challenged, and debated.
