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Greg: Brandeis’ Censorship Problem Didn’t Begin with Hirsi Ali
Last week, Brandeis University reversed its decision to grant an honorary degree to women’s rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali because of her criticism of Islam. It is unfortunate that Brandeis’ class of 2014 was denied the opportunity to hear Hirsi Ali speak at commencement, but the controversy is a symptom of a much deeper problem—both at Brandeis and across the country. FIRE President Greg Lukianoff puts the incident in context in an article for The Huffington Post today with a reminder of Brandeis’ worrying past on free speech issues and of what’s at stake for the future.
Recent Articles
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Massachusetts has a better approach for book challenges: due process
Library books aren’t immune from challenge. But Massachusetts has a smart idea: Require a fair process before taking them off the shelves.
Nebraska school district censors anti-ICE cartoon, forces prior approval on student press
After a Nebraska school censored an anti-ICE cartoon, it adopted a policy giving administrators power to review student journalism before publication.
This Michigan city threatened critics over ‘cyberbullying.’ Now it’s hiding the evidence.
When government officials threaten to sue and prosecute their constituents over speech, the public should get to see the evidence.
If everything's a conspiracy, nothing's a conspiracy
From Klan prosecutions to Don Lemon and Ricky Vaughn, Section 241 shows how conspiracy law can stretch dangerously close to protected speech today.