University of Kansas: Student Government Recommends Retaliatory Funding Cuts After Protests

On March 13, 2025, the Finance Council of the Student Senate at the University of Kansas passed a fee package, recommending slashing the funding for The University Daily Kansan from $3.64 to $1.50 per student. During negotiations, student senators attacked The Kansan and its supporters, who had advocated that the paper maintain its $3.64 student fee. These senators suggested cutting funds to send a message that the Senate would not tolerate passionate protest against its decisions. FIRE wrote the university, copying Student Senate leadership, on March 26 explaining that the First Amendment bars public university student governments from cutting funding in retaliation for student groups’ and their members’ protected expression. On February 6, 2026, the council proposed fully defunding the Kansan, a proposal which passed on March 12. On March 26, the Student Senate approved allocating $98,500 in block funding to the Kansan.