Censored on campus? Pull the FIRE alarm!

Think you can spot censorship when you see it? It might not be as easy as you think! Censorship does not always take the form of a villainous administrator seizing copies of a student newspaper or raiding the library for books to banish to a bonfire. Threats to free speech may not always be immediately apparent unless you know what to look out for. (But whenever you’re in doubt, please reach out!)

Here are some common examples of campus censorship that student organizers — and those who help them — should watch out for. If you see any of these red flags, get in touch with us:

• Punishment for social media posts: When administrators try to punish students and student groups for protected speech on social media, especially when the speech is controversial and goes viral. 
• Suspension of or refusal to recognize a student group: When administrators or student governments try to derecognize, suspend, or deny official recognition to a student organization because of its controversial message or beliefs, alleged ties to national or outside organizations, similarities to another organization, or the actions of students in chapters on other campuses. 
• Refusal of funding: When student governments try to deny funds to an organization, event, or speaker because of the message.
• Event cancellations: When administrators outright cancel, or pressure student and faculty event planners to cancel, plans to host “controversial” speakers and events on campus. Or when they effectuate a “heckler’s veto” by failing to respond properly to disruptions at events or force student groups to move in-person events online to stave off controversy or due to non-specific “safety concerns.”
• Requiring permits or permission for expression or quarantining speech to “free speech zones”: When administrators demand advance approval to hold a protest, post flyers, or distribute literature on campus, or restrict advocacy to so-called "free speech zones." Or when they make last-minute changes to protest policies in an attempt to suppress speech they don’t like. 
• Security fees: When administrators try to require student organizations to pay for the cost of security for an event over concerns it might draw protesters or because the event’s message is controversial.
• Bans on campaigning: When administrators try to censor student political expression because of a misguided concern that student speech regarding an election or candidate could jeopardize the school’s nonprofit status.
• Bans on posters and flyers: When administrators try to remove posters, confiscate flyers, or prevent students from handing out written materials they deem controversial. 

At public colleges, these types of restrictions may violate the First Amendment. At private schools, they may violate the institution’s advertised or promised commitment to freedom of expression. Schools can’t promise free speech in brochures and policies and then refuse to deliver once the tuition check has cleared.

Here at FIRE, we work to protect freedom of expression and association for students and faculty across the political spectrum — including Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Democratic Socialists, those who support or loathe former presidents, and those affiliated with no party at all; Muslims, Jews, Christians, and atheists; environmental activists, animal rights activists, pro-choice activists, anti-rape activists, anti-war activists, and LGBT activists; pro-Palestinian activists and pro-Israeli activists, free market advocates, pro-life activists, anti-immigration activists, and anti-affirmative action activists; student reporters, student government members, students who want to talk about their mental health or their school’s historical connection to lynchings, adjunct faculty, and tenured professors; and many, many more. 

Since 1999, FIRE has fought campus censorship. We use letters, press releases, and other public advocacy efforts to stand up for student rights when schools engage in censorship. In certain circumstances, FIRE may also coordinate or file litigation to vindicate student and faculty rights.

If you think we might be able to help defend your ability to speak, organize, or advocate, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Click here to submit a case to FIRE