Podcasts
NPR segment "Racial Tensions High on College Campus"
MICHEL MARTIN, host: I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Coming up, we conclude our Black History Month series with a closer look at race relations in the North. Historian Jason Sokol wrote about this in his new book, The Northern Mystique: Race and Politics from Boston to Brooklyn, and well have that conversation in just a few minutes. But first, we want to talk about another campus controversy with racial overtones - this at the University of California at San Diego. A party hosted by a white fraternity there earlier this month has sparked a tremendous response. They called it the Compton Cookout and party goers were encouraged to dress and speak in a manner that many other students found stereotypical and offensive. After several student organizations spoke out against the event, the editor of a campus newspaper appeared on a student-run television, last week, to mock the protesters.
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Adam Kissel on the Dave Congalton radio show on KVEC 920 AM
While in San Luis Obispo for his Cal Poly lecture, FIRE's Adam Kissel appeared on The Dave Congalton Show on KVEC radio.
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Episode 205: Greg Lukianoff at FreedomFest 2009: "Unlearning Liberty"
FIRE President Greg Lukianoff delivered an engaging and enlightening speech at FreedomFest in Las Vegas. Greg noted in particular the negative influence of excessive political correctness, a bureaucracy of administrators themselves uneducated in liberty, the increased reliance on a "risk management" approach to student conduct, and excessive fear of litigation as contributing factors in the repression of individual rights on college campuses today.
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Episode 204: Alan Charles Kors on Higher Education and the Loss of Liberty
At this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), FIRE Co-founder Alan Charles Kors gave a presentation entitled "Higher Education and the Loss of Liberty." During his speech, Kors said, "Speech codes are inherently illiberal but they become insufferable by virtue of their intended double standards in practice, without which they could not last for one second." He counted numerous FIRE cases over the past several years where this happened, and he described FIRE's "Red Alert" list of the institutions which have displayed a severe and ongoing disregard for the fundamental rights of their students or faculty members: Michigan State University, Colorado College, Brandeis University, Tufts University, and Johns Hopkins University.
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Episode 203: Adam Kissel at the University of Wisconsin
FIRE's Adam Kissel went on a tour of the University of Wisconsin system to speak to students and faculty about due process and the proposed changes to Chapters UWS 17 and 18 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
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Episode 202: Adam Kissel at Binghamton University
This week's episode of FIREside Chats features part one of Adam Kissel's lecture at Binghamton University last week. "Liberty in Peril: Speech Codes on our Nation's College Campuses" discusses speech codes nationwide and the recent events at BU involving Andre Massena and the Department of Social Work. Check back next week for part two of Adam's speech.
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Episode 201: Samantha Harris Discusses Speech Codes on NewsTalk 680 WPTF
The second season of FIRE's podcasting series, FIREside Chats, kicks off with Samantha Harris' December 26 interview on NewsTalk 680 WPTF in Raleigh, North Carolina. Samantha is FIRE's Director of Speech Code Research. During the interview, Samantha discusses speech codes in the North Carolina University system, FIRE's Spotlight on Speech Codes Report, and the incident that recently occurred in the Free Expression Tunnel at North Carolina State, where racist remarks about President-elect Obama were spray painted.
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Episode 135: Michigan State University Student Faces Suspension for ‘Spam’ after E-Mailing Professors
In today's episode of FIREside Chats, Adam Kissel, Director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program is joined by Kara Spencer, the MSU student government leader who faces suspension for "spam" after she e-mailed about 8 percent of the school's faculty members, encouraging them to express their views about changes to the freshman orientation and academic calendars.
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Episode 133: FIRE's Victory at Temple College
Last Thursday, FIRE's press release described our latest victory for freedom of expression at Temple College (Texas), where the school's president quickly reversed the censorship of a religiously themed cartoon and the Nietzsche quotation "God is dead" after a letter from FIRE. In today's episode of FIREside Chats, Adam Kissel, director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, discusses this case in further detail and calls on administrators at Lake Superior State University and Lone Star College–Tomball to follow Temple's lead by undoing the censorship of controversial posted materials on campus.
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Episode 127: Victory at Valdosta State University
Last week, FIRE was thrilled to announce that after months of pressure, Valdosta State University (VSU) revoked its unconstitutional free speech zone policy and restored free expression to VSU's campus. In today's episode of FIRE's podcasting series, FIREside Chats, Will Creeley and Robert Shibley discuss the events that led to this victory and the removal of VSU from FIRE's Red Alert list. The four schools that remain on this list should take a lesson from VSU, give back the essential rights they have abridged, and enjoy the restoration of their good names.
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Episode 125: Back to School with the CFN
This week's FIREside Chats podcast features Campus Freedom Network (CFN) Director Luke Sheahan and CFN Program Associate Brandon Stewart discussing the exciting back-to-school incentive program that was launched yesterday. As stated in the press release and in Luke's blog, the CFN will reward students who recruit new members, publish op-eds about FIRE cases and issues, host FIRE speakers, or engage in other activities that advance the cause of free speech on campus. To learn more about the program, listen to the complete podcast here or visit the CFN's website for more details.
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Episode 124: How Student Governments Can Protect and Promote Student Rights (part 1)
Adam Kissel, Director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, recently attended the Association of Big Ten Students Summer Conference, where he spoke to representatives from student governments about what they can do to protect and promote rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association, and due process. Listen to part one of Adam's presentation in today's episode of our podcast series, FIREside Chats, and tune in next week for our Back to School special, when we will be covering ways for students to fight abuses of power on campuses across the country.
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Episode 123: John Leo on University Speech Codes at the CFN Conference
Students at the 2008 Campus Freedom Network Conference had the privilege of hearing columnist John Leo give the opening address on June 26. He gave an amusing overview of some of the most ridiculous speech codes on university and college campuses and discussed how these codes are unconstitutional and can be overturned with the efforts of students and faculty. In this episode of FIREside Chats, we have compiled some of the highlights of Leo's presentation. A longtime champion of free speech on college campuses, Leo is a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, contributing editor to City Journal, and editor of Minding the Campus. His syndicated column was carried in U.S. News & World Report and 140 other newspapers for 17 years. He also has served as a writer and editor for numerous publications, including Time magazine, The New York Times, Commonweal, Trans-Action (now Society), and the Village Voice.
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Episode 122: Speech Codes
The latest episode of our podcasting series, FIREside Chats, concludes Director of Spotlight Samantha Harris's presentation at the Campus Freedom Network conference. In today's podcast, Samantha explains speech codes and how administrators create and enforce these codes in an attempt to prohibit free speech and free expression on college campuses. FIRE has made exposing and reforming speech codes a priority and each month, we feature a college or university with a particularly egregious speech code as our Speech Code of the Month. To listen to the entire podcast, please click here and stay tuned each Monday for new episodes of FIREside Chats. If you have an idea or a request for a topic you would like discussed in a future episode, feel free to send an email to erin@thefire.org.
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Episode 121: FIRE's Samantha Harris Defines Unprotected Speech
Today's episode of FIREside Chats features FIRE's Spotlight Director, Samantha Harris, explaining what constitutes as unprotected speech. At the Campus Freedom Network Conference back in June, Samantha talked to students on how administrators often blur the lines between constitutionally protected speech and unprotected forms of expression in order to enforce speech codes. Check back next week for the final part of Samantha's presentation.
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Episode 120: Harvey Silverglate on "Changing the Culture"
Today's episode of FIREside Chats (FIRE's weekly podcasting program) concludes Harvey Silverglate's presentation at the 2008 Campus Freedom Network Conference, which FIRE hosted last month. Harvey spoke about how FIRE has been successful at changing stifling campus speech policies and defending students and faculty whose rights have been infringed—but also said that a lot of work is still needed to change the culture of the university back to a place where no idea is silenced or punished. To learn ways in which you promote change at your college or university, listen to the complete podcast here and stay tuned for more audio from the CFN Conference.
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Episode 119: Harvey Silverglate: "If FIRE Didn't Exist, Why We Would Have to Invent It"
Last month, during FIRE's first annual Campus Freedom Network Conference, students from around the country had the opportunity to listen to prominent First Amendment advocates discuss campus rights and academic freedom. During the first session on June 27, FIRE co-founder Harvey Silverglate gave an in-depth presentation on FIRE's history and successes. As the tenth anniversary of FIRE approaches, Harvey called for students to restore the culture of the American university to a truly free marketplace of ideas. Listen to the first half of Harvey's speech here and stay tuned for more podcasts from FIRE's CFN Conference.
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Episode 131: Adam Kissel at the "How Free is the University" Conference
On June 15-16, FIRE's Adam Kissel attended an international conference on How Free is the University? in Los Angeles, CA, which was keynoted by Victor Davis Hanson. On June 15, Adam spoke on the panel "Indoctrination: When does professorial opinion cross the line from personal conviction into propaganda?" The panel discussed indoctrination, ideology, and intimidation in the university setting. Adam's talk centered around the University of Delaware's Residence Life program, which FIRE has been monitoring closely while ResLife has been preparing a new version of the program for 2008-2009.
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Episode 117: Michael Meyers Speaks to FIRE's Interns
Last week, FIRE's summer interns had the privilege of hearing Michael Meyers, president and executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, discuss his background in civil liberties and urban affairs and his views regarding the state of higher education today. Meyers has spent his entire professional career working in the fields of civil rights, civil liberties, law, housing, education, and urban affairs, and, as such, is regarded as a leading intellectual and expert on civil rights and race matters. Born in Harlem, New York, he attended public schools in New York City, then Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he took his bachelor's degree, and later Rutgers University, where he earned his J.D. degree. He is an experienced public speaker who has appeared on television programs such as The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, Charlie Rose, America's Black Forum, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Today Show.
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Episode 116: Adam Kissel on NRA News
In this episode of FIREside Chats, we bring you the May 29th broadcast of Adam Kissel's appearance on the Cam & Co radio program on NRA News, discussing FIRE's case at Tarrant County College.
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Episode 113: Residence Life Program Proposal at the University of Delaware
Today at 4 p.m. the Faculty Senate of the University of Delaware will vote on whether or not to allow the proposed Residence Life plan to proceed. FIRE has been monitoring this situation diligently and has devoted an episode of our podcasting series, FIREside Chats, to discussing the proposed plan. Listen as Adam Kissel, director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, and Robert Shibley, FIRE's vice president, talk about ResLife's agenda and point out the parts of the plan that aim to change students' "thoughts, values, beliefs, and actions." If you're a student or faculty member at the University of Delaware, FIRE urges you to attend the Faculty Senate meeting in 104 Gore Hall and make your opinion on the proposal heard.
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Episode 112: An Update on Hayden Barnes' Case at Valdosta State University
Our latest installation of FIREside Chats features an interview with Hayden Barnes, the student at Valdosta State University (VSU) who was expelled for publicly protesting the school's decision to construct two new parking garages on campus. Hayden is currently embattled in a lawsuit against the university, VSU President Ronald Zaccari, and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. In today's podcast, FIRE's Media Director Emily Guidry and Hayden discuss the school's arguments against him, his legal team's response, how the ordeal has affected him personally and how he hopes his case can help other students around the country. Be sure to check back every Monday for new episodes of FIREside Chats.
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Episode 109: Information about the CFN Summer Conference
This week's FIREside Chats podcast provides new information on the upcoming Campus Freedom Network Conference, "Free Speech vs. Speech Codes: Reclaiming Your Rights on Campus." CFN Associate Director Luke Sheahan discusses who is booked to speak at the conference, travel arrangements and how to register.
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Episode 108: FIRE's Case at Colorado College
This week's podcast features Adam Kissel, director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, and Robert Shibley, FIRE's Vice President, discussing the ongoing case at Colorado College. As we mentioned in our press release and in numerous blog posts, two students at Colorado College were deemed "violent" and punished for posting a satirical flyer on campus. This episode of FIREside Chats highlights all case points and calls for Colorado College to reverse its decision and apologize to the students for not living up to the promise of free expression it guarantees for all students and faculty.
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Episode 107: FIRE's Case at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
In today's episode of FIREside Chats, FIRE's Vice President Robert Shibley and Justice Robert H. Jackson Fellow Azhar Majeed, discuss Keith John Sampson's case at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Sampson, a student-employee, was found guilty of racial harassment for reading the book Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan during a break in the workroom. Majeed has been following this case closely and recently had an op-ed published in the Indianapolis Star about it. Continuing checking back for updates on IUPUI and join us next week for another episode of FIREside Chats, when we discuss our recent case at Colorado College.
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Episode 106: Highlights from Greg Lukianoff's Speech at Stanford Law School
On March 13, FIRE President Greg Lukianoff spoke to students at his alma mater Stanford Law School on "The Threats to Free Speech on Campus: Verboten Jokes, ‘Free Speech Gazebos,' and Terroristic Collages." Although his speech and the following Q&A were over an hour long, we have condensed it into a ten minute "highlight" reel for you to enjoy as Episode 106 of FIREside Chats. Check back every Monday for new episodes of our podcasting series.
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Episode 105: Harvey Silverglate Speaks at Brandeis University, Part One
FIRE's co-founder and chairman, Harvey Silverglate, spoke to students and faculty at Brandeis University on March 12, 2008. In the midst of the controversy surrounding Professor Donald Hindley and the Brandeis administration's lack of concern for its faculty's academic freedom, Harvey's sorely needed lecture was entitled "The Death of Free Speech, Parody, and Vigorous Debate on Campus: Why Has It Happened, and What Is to Be Done?" Demonstrating the broad appeal of this issue, the presentation was co-sponsored by a wide range of student organizations: the College Republicans, the College Democrats, the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society, and Gen Ed Now.
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Episode 104: FIRE's Case at Valdosta State University
The fourth installment of our FIREside Chats podcast series is now available on the multimedia page. In this episode, Emily Guidry, FIRE's Media Director, and Samantha Harris, FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy, discuss Hayden Barnes's case at Valdosta State University and the school's unconstitutional speech zone, both of which are also the focus of our latest video documentary.
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Episode 103: The Launch of the Campus Freedom Network
Listen as CFN Associate Director Luke Sheahan discusses the re-launch of the Campus Freedom Network (CFN) and learn about the features and navigation of the new website. You will also hear about the CFN Facebook Group, and we encourage all members of Facebook.com to join FIRE's Cause.
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Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
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Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
Episode 101: Samantha Harris Discusses Individual Rights at Risk
Today FIRE debuts the first episode of our weekly podcast series, "FIREside Chats." The series will discuss students' rights on campus and FIRE's ongoing casework and events. The podcasts are available on our Multimedia Project page, or on iTunes. To hear the first complete podcast, featuring FIRE's Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Samantha Harris and Campus Freedom Network Associate Director Luke Sheahan, please click here. Stay tuned for more!
Listen to it »
