Central Michigan University: Student Group's Freedom of Association Under Attack
In an important victory for free association, Central Michigan University (CMU) has revised a policy that absurdly banned ideological and political groups from "discriminating" on the basis of "political persuasion." FIRE urged CMU to change this policy after students hostile to the mission of the Young Americans for Freedom student group attempted to become members of the group in order to destroy it from the inside. FIRE informed CMU that freedom of association includes the right to exclude members who do not subscribe to a group's mission. Thanks to FIRE's intervention, CMU has rewritten its policy, informed student groups of the change, and vows to have the new policy on the books by the start of next semester.
- "Victory for Freedom of Association at Central Michigan University," April 3, 2007: In an important victory for free association, Central Michigan University (CMU) has revised a policy that absurdly banned ideological and political groups from “discriminating” on the basis of “political persuasion.” FIRE urged CMU to change this policy after students hostile to the mission of the Young Americans for Freedom student group attempted to become members of the group in order to destroy it from the inside. FIRE informed CMU that freedom of association includes the right to exclude members who do not subscribe to a group’s mission. Thanks to FIRE’s intervention, CMU has rewritten its policy, informed student groups of the change, and vows to have the new policy on the books by the start of next semester.
- "E-mail from Central Michigan University Office of Student Life to the Presidents of all Campus Registered Student Organizations, March 28, 2007," March 28, 2007
- "Letter from Central Michigan University President Michael Rao to FIRE, March 27, 2007," March 27, 2007
- "FIRE Letter to Central Michigan University President Michael Rao, March 16, 2007," March 16, 2007
- "E-mail Response from Director of Student Life Thomas Idema, Jr., to YAF President Dennis Lennox II,," February 20, 2007
- "E-mail from YAF President Dennis Lennox II to Director of Student Life Thomas Idema, Jr., February 20, 2007," February 20, 2007
- "Screenshots of Facebook.com Group Entitled "People who believe the Young Americans for Freedom is a Hate Group"," February 12, 2007
Case Materials
- "This Month in FIRE History: Victory for Freedom of Association at Central Michigan University," by Bridget Glackin, April 18, 2011
Blog Entries
- "Saving free speech,"
Augusta Chronicle Staff Editorial, April 9, 2007 - "Central Michigan gets schooled in First Amendment,"
by Joe Murray, The Evening Bulletin, April 5, 2007
