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Colorado State University: Students Fight for Rights to Free Speech and Assembly

Colorado State University (CSU) completely revised three formerly unconstitutional speech codes. The changes came after student activists at CSU, with help from FIRE, pressured the university to uphold the constitutional rights of CSU students. Concerned CSU students requested help from FIRE in contesting several unconstitutional policies that restricted students' expression and assembly on campus. FIRE wrote a letter to CSU President Larry E. Penley urging him to change three unconstitutional policies and the CSU Campus Libertarians held a rally in celebration of free speech outside of the designated "primary ‘Public Forum' space."  CSU then revised its unconstitutional speech codes.

Case Materials

• "2007-2008 Advertising Policy," July 19, 2007
• "2007-2008 Harassment and Hate Incidents Policy," July 19, 2007
• "Victory for Free Speech at Colorado State University," July 19, 2007: In a resounding victory for freedom of speech, Colorado State University (CSU) has completely revised three formerly unconstitutional speech codes. The changes came after student activists at CSU, with help from FIRE, pressured the university to uphold the constitutional rights of CSU students.
• "Current 'Peaceful Assembly at CSU' Policy," July 19, 2007
• "Draft Advertising and Hate Incidents Policies, April 2007," April 18, 2007
• "CSU 'Hate Incidents' Policy," April 11, 2007
• "CSU 'Advertising' Policy," April 11, 2007
• "Students Fight for Their First Amendment Rights at Colorado State University," April 11, 2007: Students at Colorado State University (CSU) will hold a rally this afternoon to celebrate their newfound right to express themselves outside of a designated free speech zone on CSU’s campus. This rally was organized by members of the Campus Libertarians, who worked with FIRE to successfully pressure the university to clarify a free speech zone policy that quarantined open expression to one small area of campus. CSU has now clarified that spontaneous assembly is allowed and encouraged at numerous locations across the campus. FIRE, along with concerned students, will continue to petition CSU to reform two other unconstitutional policies that limit students’ expression in their own dorms.
• "Satellite Image of Colorado State University," April 11, 2007
• "Letter from CSU General Counsel Loretta Martinez to FIRE, March 28, 2007," March 28, 2007
• "FIRE Letter to Colorado State University President Larry E. Penley, March 12, 2007," March 12, 2007
• "'Peaceful Assembly at CSU' Policy on CSU Website Prior to March 12, 2007," March 12, 2007
• "'CSU: Pro-pot flier flap overblown'," September 28, 2006

Blog Entries

• "Colorado State: Revised Policies Still Miss the Mark," by Emily Guidry, June 15, 2007: Colorado State University (CSU) was poised to eliminate two unconstitutional speech codes that restricted freedom of speech and assembly on campus after pressure from FIRE and student activists, but FIRE was disappointed to learn this week that unconstitutional language has found its way back into the final versions of those revised policies. FIRE is asking CSU to revert to the previous drafts of the policies circulated in April, which protected students’ First Amendment rights.

Media Coverage

• "Colo. State revises campus speech codes,"
  by Courtney Holliday, First Amendment Center, July 27, 2007
• "A win for free speech at CSU,"
  by Al Knight, The Denver Post, July 25, 2007
• "Where there is smoke, there is FIRE,"
  by Joe Murray, The Evening Bulletin, July 25, 2007
• "Liberty lessons: Student complaints deep-six CSU speech limits,"
  Colorado Springs Gazette, July 23, 2007
• "CSU revises some policies on free speech,"
  by Taylour Nelson, The Fort Collins Coloradoan, July 20, 2007
• "Lawyer talks First Amendment,"
  by Jessi Stafford, The Rocky Mountain Collegian, May 2, 2007
• "FIRE Starter,"
  by Michael Beckel, Rocky Mountain Chronicle, April 19, 2007
• "Making themselves heard,"
  by Andra Coberly, Fort Collins Weekly, April 15, 2007
• "CSU and free speech,"
  Rocky Mountain News Staff Editorial, April 15, 2007
• "Group for free speech rallies on CSU campus,"
  by JP Eichmiller, The Coloradoan, April 12, 2007
• "Group tackles CSU free-speech policy,"
  by James Baetke, Rocky Mountain Collegian, April 12, 2007