Florida State University: Students and Organization Investigated for Distributing Flyers

On June 26, 2026, members of Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society distributed flyers that accused a student of sexual assault and criticized the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations at a Florida State University event. An administrator ordered the group to leave the fair. The following month, FSU charged SDS and individual members for distributing the flyers and failure to comply with an administrator’s order. At information meetings, administrators refused to provide the students or SDS with any of the evidence against them. On August 18, FIRE wrote FSU, explaining that the flyers appear to be protected by the First Amendment, meaning FSU cannot charge the students for distributing them, and that the university has an obligation to provide the students with the evidence against them. On September 30, FSU found the individuals not responsible for failing to comply, but determined that the flyers violated school policy that prohibits conduct that “substantially interfer[es] with a reasonable person’s academic performance or ability to participate in opportunities or benefits provided by the University.”