University of Colorado at Boulder: Suppression of Affirmative Action Bake Sale
At the University of Colorado at Boulder, the College Republicans and the Equal Opportunity Alliance were informed by administrators that they would not be permitted to hold an affirmative action bake sale because, CU claimed, the students would be engaging in discrimination. FIRE Legal Network Attorney Robert Corry quickly stepped in, informing CU that he would be filing for an injunction on Tuesday at noon to force the university not to abridge the students' First Amendment rights. The planned bake sale was a political protest, not an exercise in discrimination. Under threat of court action, CU quickly agreed to settle the issue, agreeing to allow the bake sale as long as they charged only "suggested prices" and use race only as a "plus factor" in determining the price. The students consented and held the event, although at the sale itself other students who opposed the protest attempted to silence it, vandalizing the booth and tearing down signs.
- "Twin Victories for Free Speech on Campus," February 13, 2004:
Case Materials
- "The AHA's Double Standard on Academic Freedom,"
by David Beito, Ralph Luker and Robert “K. C.” Johnson, Perspectives (American Historical Association), March 1, 2006 - "The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, and the Pasadena Star-News on FIRE,"
March 3, 2004 - "The intimidating atmosphere for free speech on campus,"
by Greg Lukianoff, Colorado Daily, February 19, 2004 - "CU speech ban was half-baked,"
Denver Post, February 12, 2004 - "CU GOP fights off administration for affirmative action bake sale,"
by Katherine Crowell and Scott Heiser, Colorado Daily, February 11, 2004 - "CU bake sale targets affirmative action,"
by Marcos Mocine-McQueen, Denver Post, February 11, 2004 - "Students fight ban on 'action' bake sale,"
Denver Post, February 10, 2004 - "Will students buy at the 'bake sale?',"
by Meagan Balink, Colorado Daily, February 9, 2004
