Create real change on your campus

FIRE provides students with opportunities and support to defend free speech with hands-on experience and training.

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Student speaking at the 2024 FIRE Free Speech Leadership Summit
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You're not alone in defending yourself

Campus Rights Advocacy

Need help defending your free speech rights? FIRE may be able to help.

Case Submission FAQ

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Kim Diei in the FIRE Philadelphia Office
Staying positive while fighting for my rights for years wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. We all need to speak up when someone tries to take our rights away — our voice is way too powerful to let anyone shut it down.

Expelled for a Tweet About Cardi B

Defending Student Rights

The University of Tennessee’s College of pharmacy twice investigated graduate student Kim Diei over vague professionalism policies after an anonymous complaint about her sex-positive social media content. So in February 2021 — represented by FIRE — Diei sued UT administrators so she and her classmates no longer face this unconstitutional threat that their expression on personal social media will endanger their education. Now they’ll pay a $250K lawsuit settlement!

Read Kim's Story

Become a FIRE Free Speech Defender

FIRE provides students with opportunities and support to defend free speech with hands-on experience and training.

Opportunities for Students

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Free Speech Forum

Build Your Network

FIRE is bringing together the next generation of free speech leaders at American University in Washington D.C.

Learn More
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Student Press Freedom

Defend Student Newspapers

FIRE’s Student Press Freedom Initiative defends free press on campus by advocating for the rights of student journalists at colleges and universities across the country.

Learn More
Arthur D. Hellman Fellowship

Free Speech Internship

Join Our Team

FIRE offers a 10-week, paid summer internship as part of our efforts to educate students about their rights at colleges and universities.

Apply Today

Research & Analysis

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Shifting Winds: Students Under Fire, 2020-2024

Report

This report examines the efforts to investigate, censor, or otherwise discipline college students for activity that would be protected by the First Amendment.

View Report

Connect with passionate students from across the country

A community of like-minded peers makes a huge difference in supporting your rights on campus. You are not alone.

Students participate in a discussion at the FIRE Student Network Conference

The most popular free speech student conference.

FIRE Student Conference

Ready to speak out on campus? This is your chance to learn how to ignite your rights. FIRE may also reimburse travel and lodging costs. 

Grow Your Network
FIRE Let's Talk

Foster civil discourse on your campus

Let's Talk

Higher education — and your college campus — needs healthy, rigorous, and productive conversations. Here’s how you can help.

Get Started
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Host an Event

Get Involved

Are you interested in working with FIRE’s Speakers Bureau to engage your campus community? Take a look at these resources for instructions on how to get started.

Start Planning

Your campus activism promotes free speech for all students.

As a student on campus, your voice is critical to securing free expression at your school. These campus activism tools will enable you to effect change on your campus.

Take ActioN: CAMPUS ACTIVISM RESOURCES

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VIDEO: The History of Free Speech with The Nomadic Professor

History of Free Speech

Lesson

How has the concept of free speech been perceived throughout history? How did Socrates, the printing press, and the internet affect people’s right to free speech? Take the journey through history and around the world with The Nomadic Professor to explore this long and fascinating thread of human history.

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