Home Cases Departments of Education and Justice: National "Blueprint" for Unconstitutional Speech Codes Cases Search all Cases Case News Case OverviewCase NewsFilings/RulingsCase Documents Case News Campus civil liberties coalition files petition to defend Title IX free speech, due process protections against state attorneys general lawsuit June 26, 2020 Press Release Campus free speech orgs seek to intervene in lawsuit to defend new Title IX regulations June 24, 2020 Press Release New Title IX regulations carefully balance the rights of all students May 8, 2020 News Education Dept. issues new Title IX regs with crucial campus due process protections, adopts Supreme Court sexual harassment definition May 6, 2020 Press Release 'TWISTING TITLE IX' WEEK: Title IX Enforcement Has Continued Negative Effect on Freedom of Expression September 29, 2016 With Feds’ Letter to UNM, AAUP’s Predictions of Title IX Overreach Materialize April 28, 2016 DOJ Findings Letter to UNM Exacerbates an Already Significant Problem with University Speech Codes April 28, 2016 DOJ Demands Clarity from UNM While Mandating Confusing Sexual Harassment Policy April 27, 2016 New DOJ Letter Threatens Campus Speech, Warns Former OCR Attorney April 26, 2016 News Department of Justice: Title IX Requires Violating First Amendment April 25, 2016 Press Release Greg Laments an ‘Unfortunate Renaissance in Campus Speech-Policing’ on College Campuses May 18, 2015 New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Part of State’s Bias Intimidation Law Unconstitutional March 19, 2015 FIRE Announces 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech in 2014 March 2, 2015 Press Release Obama’s Budget Proposal Portends More Problematic Micromanaging by OCR February 5, 2015 Speech Code of the Month: Georgia Southern University January 14, 2015 Speech Code of the Month: Pennsylvania State University December 8, 2014 A Year Later, Impact of Feds’ ‘Blueprint’ Comes into Focus August 28, 2014 News FIRE Responds to White House Task Force’s First Report on Campus Sexual Assault April 29, 2014 News 2013 in Review: Threats from Washington, Victories in the States December 30, 2013 Press Release The 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2013 December 27, 2013 'Blueprint' No More? Feds Back Away from New Campus Speech Restrictions November 21, 2013 Press Release Smoke and Mirrors: Four Clarifications About the 'Blueprint' November 4, 2013 University of Montana Faculty Fight Back Against New Policies October 2, 2013 News Stephen Henrick on the Sexual Assault Case OCR Ignored October 1, 2013 Feds Approve University of Montana Sexual Harassment Policy That Threatens Speech; Faculty Who Refuse Training to Be Reported to Federal Government October 1, 2013 Press Release U. of Montana Faculty Criticize Mandatory Reports to Government on Sexual Misconduct Training Attendance September 27, 2013 FIRE Responds to OCR Letters Regarding 'Blueprint,' Due Process September 12, 2013 Federal Slowdown: Departments of Education and Justice Stall Approval for New University of Montana Sexual Harassment Policy September 10, 2013 Press Release From Berkeley to the 'Blueprint': Prof. Dave's Fight for Free Speech on Campus (VIDEO) September 3, 2013 Citing Centrality of 'Robust and Discordant Expressions' to University Life, OCR Dismisses Complaint of Anti-Semitism Against Berkeley August 30, 2013 New Student Orientation Has Started at U. Montana; Still No New Policies Posted August 23, 2013 Schools Need Not Violate Basic Rights to Take Sexual Misconduct Seriously August 16, 2013 Greg Lukianoff on Changes in Campus Free Speech in 'The Huffington Post' August 15, 2013 High School Sexual Harassment Case Illuminates Key Points About 'Blueprint' August 14, 2013 The End to My 'Sexy' Academic Career July 26, 2013 Walter Olson Tackles the 'Blueprint' July 19, 2013 U. of Montana Deadline Passes: Where Are the New Policies? July 19, 2013 'Meese v. Keene' Sheds Light on Danger of the 'Blueprint' July 18, 2013 FIRE's Robert Shibley on the Politically Diverse Opposition to 'Blueprint' July 17, 2013 Schools Should Realize That 'Davis' Is the Solution July 16, 2013 News On Feds' 'Blueprint,' 'Savannah Morning News' Opinion Is Appropriately Snarky July 16, 2013 Four Key Points About Free Speech and the Feds' 'Blueprint' July 15, 2013 News Walter Olson on 'Sentence First, Verdict Afterward' in Campus Sexual Harassment Cases July 11, 2013 OCR's Logical Fallacy July 10, 2013 Please Explain Why Putting University Administrators in Charge of Judging Speech Is a Good Idea July 9, 2013 KC Johnson Decries Politically Polarized Defense of Feds' 'Blueprint' July 9, 2013 'Missoulian' Response Illustrates Potential Repercussions of May 9 'Blueprint' July 8, 2013 Defending 'Blueprint'? Better Read the Actual Text July 5, 2013 Inaccurate 'ThinkProgress' Coverage of Blueprint Disappoints ... Again July 3, 2013 'Missoulian' on McCain, FIRE, and the U of Montana Settlement July 1, 2013 Senator McCain Demands Answers from DOJ over Campus Censorship "Blueprint" June 26, 2013 Press Release Senator McCain Demands Answers from DOJ over Campus Censorship 'Blueprint' June 26, 2013 United Educators Warns Admins: Keep Up With Legal Requirements, But Don't Overreact June 24, 2013 Can the University of Montana Deliver the Constitutional, OCR-Compliant Sexual Harassment Policy It Promised? June 21, 2013 OCR Descends into Self-Parody in Front of Incredulous College Lawyers June 21, 2013 Defending 'Blueprint,' SUNY Lawyer Tells Students, Faculty: 'Trust Us' June 14, 2013 News Samantha Harris in 'Inside Higher Ed': Federal 'Blueprint' Imposes Huge Administrative Burden June 13, 2013 How the 'Blueprint' Exacerbates the Already Problematic Abuse of 'Harassment' on Campus June 13, 2013 Responding to Volokh's Defense of the 'Preponderance' Standard June 12, 2013 The Reality of the Government's Reporting Requirement June 12, 2013 News This Crystal Ball is Clear: OCR Cannot Issue a 'Blueprint' Without Following APA Rulemaking Procedures June 11, 2013 Under New Definition, U of Montana Tutorial is Sexual Harassment June 10, 2013 ThinkProgress' Defense of 'Blueprint' Misses the Mark June 7, 2013 Protected Speech: Nothing to Investigate June 7, 2013 News 'Washington Post' Rolls Up the 'Blueprint' June 7, 2013 AAUP's Committee on Women Expresses Deep Concern about Feds' Speech Code 'Blueprint' June 7, 2013 'Unlearning Liberty': Harassment Codes Often Abused to Censor June 6, 2013 Peter Wood Adds to 'Blueprint' Chorus in 'Minding the Campus' June 6, 2013 Literature Professor Unveils Brand New 'Blueprint'-Compliant Syllabus June 5, 2013 'Los Angeles Times' to Feds: Respect Campus Speech June 5, 2013 'Tampa Bay Times': 'Harassment policy infringes on speech' June 4, 2013 The OCR Emperor Has No Legal Clothes: OCR Can Only Enforce the 'Blueprint' Against University of Montana June 4, 2013 News FIRE President Greg Lukianoff at Museum of Sex June 4, 2013 'Weekly Standard' on 'The Big Chill' Created by Feds' Speech Code Mandate June 3, 2013 University of Montana Admin Promises New Policies Will Respect First Amendment May 31, 2013 News Five Questions for the Office for Civil Rights May 31, 2013 Samantha Harris on Montana’s News Talk KGVO at 11 a.m.! May 31, 2013 Facing National Criticism, Feds Attempt to Defend Controversial Campus 'Blueprint' May 30, 2013 Blog FIRE Answers Frequently Asked Questions about New Federal 'Blueprint' May 29, 2013 More Examples of Actionable Sexual Harassment Under the 'Blueprint' May 28, 2013 Cathy Young: Federal 'Blueprint' Jeopardizes Free Speech and Due Process May 28, 2013 David Moshman: 'Sexual Harassment Is Wrong Because It Is Harassment, Not Because It Is Sexual' May 24, 2013 How the Federal Blueprint Breaks New Ground May 24, 2013 Hans Bader in 'Chronicle': New Blueprint 'Casts Dark Cloud' May 23, 2013 No, the New 'Blueprint' Does Not Require an Objective Standard May 23, 2013 No, New Sexual Harassment Guidelines Are Not a Positive Step May 23, 2013 Glenn Garvin Surveys the Casualties of War on Shakespeare May 21, 2013 Department of Education on Federal 'Blueprint' Letter: Silence May 20, 2013 Mona Charen on the Feds’ ‘Blueprint’ for College Censorship May 17, 2013 Federal government mandates unconstitutional speech codes at colleges and universities nationwide May 17, 2013 Press Release VIDEO: 'Feds Push Insane New Speech Codes!' Greg on ReasonTV May 16, 2013 Federal Speech Code 'Blueprint': It's Not Just About Sex May 16, 2013 Free Speech Under Fire May 15, 2013 Creeley in 'Huffington Post': Fed's New Campus Mandate Silences Sarah Silverman, Salt-n-Pepa, Ciara May 15, 2013 New OCR Letter Completely Ignores Earlier OCR Guidance on First Amendment May 15, 2013 News of DOJ/DOE Mandate Spreads May 14, 2013 More Reasons Why the New DOE/DOJ Letter Jeopardizes Higher Education May 14, 2013 Feds May Force U.S. Universities To Adopt Extreme Anti Sexual-Harassment Speech Codes May 14, 2013 Fake Bureaucrat Gives Real Answers About Mandate from Departments of Justice and Education May 14, 2013 Former OCR Attorney Details Federal Government's Shocking Break with Legal Precedent, Common Sense May 10, 2013 Federal Government Mandates Unconstitutional Speech Codes at Colleges and Universities Nationwide May 10, 2013 News Departments of Justice, Education Misquote the Supreme Court May 10, 2013
Departments of Education and Justice: National "Blueprint" for Unconstitutional Speech Codes Cases Search all Cases
Campus civil liberties coalition files petition to defend Title IX free speech, due process protections against state attorneys general lawsuit June 26, 2020 Press Release Campus free speech orgs seek to intervene in lawsuit to defend new Title IX regulations June 24, 2020 Press Release New Title IX regulations carefully balance the rights of all students May 8, 2020 News Education Dept. issues new Title IX regs with crucial campus due process protections, adopts Supreme Court sexual harassment definition May 6, 2020 Press Release 'TWISTING TITLE IX' WEEK: Title IX Enforcement Has Continued Negative Effect on Freedom of Expression September 29, 2016 With Feds’ Letter to UNM, AAUP’s Predictions of Title IX Overreach Materialize April 28, 2016 DOJ Findings Letter to UNM Exacerbates an Already Significant Problem with University Speech Codes April 28, 2016 DOJ Demands Clarity from UNM While Mandating Confusing Sexual Harassment Policy April 27, 2016 New DOJ Letter Threatens Campus Speech, Warns Former OCR Attorney April 26, 2016 News Department of Justice: Title IX Requires Violating First Amendment April 25, 2016 Press Release Greg Laments an ‘Unfortunate Renaissance in Campus Speech-Policing’ on College Campuses May 18, 2015 New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Part of State’s Bias Intimidation Law Unconstitutional March 19, 2015 FIRE Announces 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech in 2014 March 2, 2015 Press Release Obama’s Budget Proposal Portends More Problematic Micromanaging by OCR February 5, 2015 Speech Code of the Month: Georgia Southern University January 14, 2015 Speech Code of the Month: Pennsylvania State University December 8, 2014 A Year Later, Impact of Feds’ ‘Blueprint’ Comes into Focus August 28, 2014 News FIRE Responds to White House Task Force’s First Report on Campus Sexual Assault April 29, 2014 News 2013 in Review: Threats from Washington, Victories in the States December 30, 2013 Press Release The 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2013 December 27, 2013 'Blueprint' No More? Feds Back Away from New Campus Speech Restrictions November 21, 2013 Press Release Smoke and Mirrors: Four Clarifications About the 'Blueprint' November 4, 2013 University of Montana Faculty Fight Back Against New Policies October 2, 2013 News Stephen Henrick on the Sexual Assault Case OCR Ignored October 1, 2013 Feds Approve University of Montana Sexual Harassment Policy That Threatens Speech; Faculty Who Refuse Training to Be Reported to Federal Government October 1, 2013 Press Release U. of Montana Faculty Criticize Mandatory Reports to Government on Sexual Misconduct Training Attendance September 27, 2013 FIRE Responds to OCR Letters Regarding 'Blueprint,' Due Process September 12, 2013 Federal Slowdown: Departments of Education and Justice Stall Approval for New University of Montana Sexual Harassment Policy September 10, 2013 Press Release From Berkeley to the 'Blueprint': Prof. Dave's Fight for Free Speech on Campus (VIDEO) September 3, 2013 Citing Centrality of 'Robust and Discordant Expressions' to University Life, OCR Dismisses Complaint of Anti-Semitism Against Berkeley August 30, 2013 New Student Orientation Has Started at U. Montana; Still No New Policies Posted August 23, 2013 Schools Need Not Violate Basic Rights to Take Sexual Misconduct Seriously August 16, 2013 Greg Lukianoff on Changes in Campus Free Speech in 'The Huffington Post' August 15, 2013 High School Sexual Harassment Case Illuminates Key Points About 'Blueprint' August 14, 2013 The End to My 'Sexy' Academic Career July 26, 2013 Walter Olson Tackles the 'Blueprint' July 19, 2013 U. of Montana Deadline Passes: Where Are the New Policies? July 19, 2013 'Meese v. Keene' Sheds Light on Danger of the 'Blueprint' July 18, 2013 FIRE's Robert Shibley on the Politically Diverse Opposition to 'Blueprint' July 17, 2013 Schools Should Realize That 'Davis' Is the Solution July 16, 2013 News On Feds' 'Blueprint,' 'Savannah Morning News' Opinion Is Appropriately Snarky July 16, 2013 Four Key Points About Free Speech and the Feds' 'Blueprint' July 15, 2013 News Walter Olson on 'Sentence First, Verdict Afterward' in Campus Sexual Harassment Cases July 11, 2013 OCR's Logical Fallacy July 10, 2013 Please Explain Why Putting University Administrators in Charge of Judging Speech Is a Good Idea July 9, 2013 KC Johnson Decries Politically Polarized Defense of Feds' 'Blueprint' July 9, 2013 'Missoulian' Response Illustrates Potential Repercussions of May 9 'Blueprint' July 8, 2013 Defending 'Blueprint'? Better Read the Actual Text July 5, 2013 Inaccurate 'ThinkProgress' Coverage of Blueprint Disappoints ... Again July 3, 2013 'Missoulian' on McCain, FIRE, and the U of Montana Settlement July 1, 2013 Senator McCain Demands Answers from DOJ over Campus Censorship "Blueprint" June 26, 2013 Press Release Senator McCain Demands Answers from DOJ over Campus Censorship 'Blueprint' June 26, 2013 United Educators Warns Admins: Keep Up With Legal Requirements, But Don't Overreact June 24, 2013 Can the University of Montana Deliver the Constitutional, OCR-Compliant Sexual Harassment Policy It Promised? June 21, 2013 OCR Descends into Self-Parody in Front of Incredulous College Lawyers June 21, 2013 Defending 'Blueprint,' SUNY Lawyer Tells Students, Faculty: 'Trust Us' June 14, 2013 News Samantha Harris in 'Inside Higher Ed': Federal 'Blueprint' Imposes Huge Administrative Burden June 13, 2013 How the 'Blueprint' Exacerbates the Already Problematic Abuse of 'Harassment' on Campus June 13, 2013 Responding to Volokh's Defense of the 'Preponderance' Standard June 12, 2013 The Reality of the Government's Reporting Requirement June 12, 2013 News This Crystal Ball is Clear: OCR Cannot Issue a 'Blueprint' Without Following APA Rulemaking Procedures June 11, 2013 Under New Definition, U of Montana Tutorial is Sexual Harassment June 10, 2013 ThinkProgress' Defense of 'Blueprint' Misses the Mark June 7, 2013 Protected Speech: Nothing to Investigate June 7, 2013 News 'Washington Post' Rolls Up the 'Blueprint' June 7, 2013 AAUP's Committee on Women Expresses Deep Concern about Feds' Speech Code 'Blueprint' June 7, 2013 'Unlearning Liberty': Harassment Codes Often Abused to Censor June 6, 2013 Peter Wood Adds to 'Blueprint' Chorus in 'Minding the Campus' June 6, 2013 Literature Professor Unveils Brand New 'Blueprint'-Compliant Syllabus June 5, 2013 'Los Angeles Times' to Feds: Respect Campus Speech June 5, 2013 'Tampa Bay Times': 'Harassment policy infringes on speech' June 4, 2013 The OCR Emperor Has No Legal Clothes: OCR Can Only Enforce the 'Blueprint' Against University of Montana June 4, 2013 News FIRE President Greg Lukianoff at Museum of Sex June 4, 2013 'Weekly Standard' on 'The Big Chill' Created by Feds' Speech Code Mandate June 3, 2013 University of Montana Admin Promises New Policies Will Respect First Amendment May 31, 2013 News Five Questions for the Office for Civil Rights May 31, 2013 Samantha Harris on Montana’s News Talk KGVO at 11 a.m.! May 31, 2013 Facing National Criticism, Feds Attempt to Defend Controversial Campus 'Blueprint' May 30, 2013 Blog FIRE Answers Frequently Asked Questions about New Federal 'Blueprint' May 29, 2013 More Examples of Actionable Sexual Harassment Under the 'Blueprint' May 28, 2013 Cathy Young: Federal 'Blueprint' Jeopardizes Free Speech and Due Process May 28, 2013 David Moshman: 'Sexual Harassment Is Wrong Because It Is Harassment, Not Because It Is Sexual' May 24, 2013 How the Federal Blueprint Breaks New Ground May 24, 2013 Hans Bader in 'Chronicle': New Blueprint 'Casts Dark Cloud' May 23, 2013 No, the New 'Blueprint' Does Not Require an Objective Standard May 23, 2013 No, New Sexual Harassment Guidelines Are Not a Positive Step May 23, 2013 Glenn Garvin Surveys the Casualties of War on Shakespeare May 21, 2013 Department of Education on Federal 'Blueprint' Letter: Silence May 20, 2013 Mona Charen on the Feds’ ‘Blueprint’ for College Censorship May 17, 2013 Federal government mandates unconstitutional speech codes at colleges and universities nationwide May 17, 2013 Press Release VIDEO: 'Feds Push Insane New Speech Codes!' Greg on ReasonTV May 16, 2013 Federal Speech Code 'Blueprint': It's Not Just About Sex May 16, 2013 Free Speech Under Fire May 15, 2013 Creeley in 'Huffington Post': Fed's New Campus Mandate Silences Sarah Silverman, Salt-n-Pepa, Ciara May 15, 2013 New OCR Letter Completely Ignores Earlier OCR Guidance on First Amendment May 15, 2013 News of DOJ/DOE Mandate Spreads May 14, 2013 More Reasons Why the New DOE/DOJ Letter Jeopardizes Higher Education May 14, 2013 Feds May Force U.S. Universities To Adopt Extreme Anti Sexual-Harassment Speech Codes May 14, 2013 Fake Bureaucrat Gives Real Answers About Mandate from Departments of Justice and Education May 14, 2013 Former OCR Attorney Details Federal Government's Shocking Break with Legal Precedent, Common Sense May 10, 2013 Federal Government Mandates Unconstitutional Speech Codes at Colleges and Universities Nationwide May 10, 2013 News Departments of Justice, Education Misquote the Supreme Court May 10, 2013
Campus civil liberties coalition files petition to defend Title IX free speech, due process protections against state attorneys general lawsuit June 26, 2020 Press Release
Campus free speech orgs seek to intervene in lawsuit to defend new Title IX regulations June 24, 2020 Press Release
Education Dept. issues new Title IX regs with crucial campus due process protections, adopts Supreme Court sexual harassment definition May 6, 2020 Press Release
'TWISTING TITLE IX' WEEK: Title IX Enforcement Has Continued Negative Effect on Freedom of Expression September 29, 2016
DOJ Findings Letter to UNM Exacerbates an Already Significant Problem with University Speech Codes April 28, 2016
'Blueprint' No More? Feds Back Away from New Campus Speech Restrictions November 21, 2013 Press Release
Feds Approve University of Montana Sexual Harassment Policy That Threatens Speech; Faculty Who Refuse Training to Be Reported to Federal Government October 1, 2013 Press Release
U. of Montana Faculty Criticize Mandatory Reports to Government on Sexual Misconduct Training Attendance September 27, 2013
Federal Slowdown: Departments of Education and Justice Stall Approval for New University of Montana Sexual Harassment Policy September 10, 2013 Press Release
From Berkeley to the 'Blueprint': Prof. Dave's Fight for Free Speech on Campus (VIDEO) September 3, 2013
Citing Centrality of 'Robust and Discordant Expressions' to University Life, OCR Dismisses Complaint of Anti-Semitism Against Berkeley August 30, 2013
Please Explain Why Putting University Administrators in Charge of Judging Speech Is a Good Idea July 9, 2013
Senator McCain Demands Answers from DOJ over Campus Censorship "Blueprint" June 26, 2013 Press Release
Can the University of Montana Deliver the Constitutional, OCR-Compliant Sexual Harassment Policy It Promised? June 21, 2013
Samantha Harris in 'Inside Higher Ed': Federal 'Blueprint' Imposes Huge Administrative Burden June 13, 2013
How the 'Blueprint' Exacerbates the Already Problematic Abuse of 'Harassment' on Campus June 13, 2013
This Crystal Ball is Clear: OCR Cannot Issue a 'Blueprint' Without Following APA Rulemaking Procedures June 11, 2013
The OCR Emperor Has No Legal Clothes: OCR Can Only Enforce the 'Blueprint' Against University of Montana June 4, 2013 News
David Moshman: 'Sexual Harassment Is Wrong Because It Is Harassment, Not Because It Is Sexual' May 24, 2013
Federal government mandates unconstitutional speech codes at colleges and universities nationwide May 17, 2013 Press Release
Creeley in 'Huffington Post': Fed's New Campus Mandate Silences Sarah Silverman, Salt-n-Pepa, Ciara May 15, 2013
Fake Bureaucrat Gives Real Answers About Mandate from Departments of Justice and Education May 14, 2013
Former OCR Attorney Details Federal Government's Shocking Break with Legal Precedent, Common Sense May 10, 2013
Federal Government Mandates Unconstitutional Speech Codes at Colleges and Universities Nationwide May 10, 2013 News
