Texas Tech's 'Free-Speech Zones' Are Unconstitutional, Judge Rules

October 15, 2004

by Scott Smallwood

The Chronicle of Higher Education

A federal judge has struck down "free-speech zones" at Texas Tech University, ruling unconstitutional a requirement that students who wish to give speeches must stay within a designated area.

The case was brought by Jason Roberts, a law student who had sought to speak publicly about his view that "homosexuality is a sinful, immoral, and unhealthy lifestyle." He asked administrators for permission to give the speech outside the designated zone -- a 20-foot-wide gazebo that can hold about 40 people.

According to the lawsuit, officials turned down the request, saying that it was "the expression of a personal belief and thus is something more appropriate for the free-speech area, which is the gazebo area."

The lawsuit was supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, an advocacy group that has fought speech zones at several colleges.

View this article at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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