Santa Monica College: Administrators Influence Cancelation of Theatre Class Play

On October 18, 2023, FIRE learned of the cancellation of a theater class production of By the River Rivanna at Santa Monica College. On October 20, 2023, FIRE called on SMC to allow the performance to move forward. SMC responded on October 23, claiming it was the faculty and students who decided to suspend the production – however, faculty members told FIRE the same administrators had interviewed students and had them vote on whether the play should proceed as scheduled, be delayed by a week, or canceled altogether, and that when the majority voted to continue, administrators conducted a second vote on whether the play should be invite-only. Even though a majority of students voted to proceed invite-only, other students were uncomfortable moving forward, so the students collectively decided to ultimately cancel the performance. 

FIRE accordingly urged SMC on November 1 to confirm it would cease unduly influencing students and violating faculty rights to assign materials. On November 13, SMC responded, denying administrators unduly interfered with the students’ and faculty’s First Amendment rights. So, FIRE filed a public records request and obtained evidence of the administrative pressure on students to cancel, then on February 23, 2024, asked that SMC train its administrators on their legal obligations regarding student and faculty First Amendment rights, which SMC agreed on March 6 to do.