FIRE Student Network: Molly’s Story

Today, Molly Nocheck is a program officer for campus outreach here at FIRE. But before she joined our team, she was an activist for student rights at her alma mater, Ohio University (OU). As a member of the student organization Students Defending Students (SDS), Molly worked to ensure that student due process rights were protected and that restrictive and unconstitutional speech codes were challenged.

In the video below, recorded at the 2014 FIRE Student Network Conference, Molly discusses her experience with student advocacy at OU, her introduction to FIRE, and the future of OU’s speech codes. (On February 2, OU eliminated its speech codes as part of a settlement after being sued on First Amendment grounds by student Isaac Smith, a fellow OU SDS officer, as part of FIRE’s Stand Up For Speech Litigation Project.) Molly also shares advice for students who are passionate about securing their rights on campus.

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Inspired by Molly’s story? Join us July 24–26 in Philadelphia at the 2015 FIRE Student Network Conference and learn more about how you can defend student rights and challenge speech codes on your campus. Apply today!