Bowdoin College: Student Organization Barred From Social Media

The Bowdoin Socialists is an unregistered group composed of both students and non-students who advocate for the tenets of socialism on Bowdoin’s campus. On February 13, 2026, Bowdoin College Director of Student Activities Nate Hintz, emailed Finley Rhys, an organizer in the group, and ordered him to cease publishing social media and website content for the Bowdoin Socialists. The college asserted that any student group must register with the college before communicating on social media. On March 12, FIRE wrote the college, explaining it may not regulate unregistered student groups’ conduct anymore than that of other local community groups, and its restriction on the Socialists’ speech constitutes an unconstitutional prior restraint. Our letter urged Bowdoin to remove all restrictions on unregistered student organizations, including the Socialists.