Portland State University: University Refers Student to Bias Team for Dressing as Nazi for Costume Contest

On October 29, 2024, Portland State University announced that it referred a student to the Office of Equity and Compliance’s Bias Team for dressing as a Nazi to an on-campus Halloween costume contest. FIRE wrote PSU on October 31, explaining that the student has the First Amendment right to wear such a costume, whether as a joke, a sincere opinion, to mock Nazis, or for any other expressive purpose, even when many may find it offensive. We further explained that announcing an investigation into protected expression impermissibly chills campus speech because of the implicit threat of discipline. We urged PSU to end any investigation into the matter and refrain from announcing investigations into protected expression in the future.