University of Arizona: Faculty Senate Chair Introduces New Initiative that Threatens Free Speech

On December 2, 2023, Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson sent a faculty-wide email introducing the creation of a Campus Climate response team to “document and intervene in incidents that do not meet the threshold of credible threats of violence.” FIRE wrote UA on December 13 explaining why this initiative threatens to chill faculty expression by implying disciplinary measures for protected speech. Within hours, Hudson sent a clarifying email to faculty acknowledging FIRE’s concerns and agreeing to operate within a constitutionally acceptable framework.