Pennsylvania House of Representatives Select Committee on Student Academic Freedom
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives brought together a committee to examine allegations that Pennsylvania's public universities were plagued by liberal ideology and indoctrination. David A. French, at the time president of FIRE, served as a legal adviser to the panel. FIRE released FIRE Report on the First Amendment Responsibilities of Pennsylvania State-Funded Colleges and Universities, explaining that Pennsylvania universities are bound to follow the strictures of the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions, notably to respect the expressive rights of students and faculty members, to protect religious liberty on campus, and to protect freedom of conscience on campus.
- "Testimony to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Select Committee on Student Academic Freedom," September 19, 2005
- "FIRE Report on the First Amendment Responsibilities of Pennsylvania State-Funded Colleges and Universities," September 19, 2005
Case Materials
- "Speech codes make universities intolerant,"
by Charles Mitchell, The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.), January 5, 2006 - "Pennsylvania Lawmakers Hold Hearings on Political Bias in College Classrooms,"
by Jennifer Jacobson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, November 25, 2005 - "Pennsylvania's Historic Academic Freedom Hearings,"
by David French, Front Page Magazine, October 28, 2005 - "Academic rights panel told to watch where it steps,"
by Paul Peirce, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 20, 2005

