How Tall is the Ivory Tower?
Regulating Speech on University
Campuses
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Photo: L.A. Cicero
The First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the
press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the government for a
redress of grievances.”
“Sticks and stones may break
my bones, but words will
never hurt me!”
Or could they?
• Schenck v. United States (1919) - “clear
and present danger”
• Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942) “Fighting words”
“Hate Speech”
• speech intended to degrade, intimidate,
or incite violence or prejudicial action
against a person or group of people
based on their race, gender, age,
ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity, disability,
moral or political views, etc.
Speech Codes
• Hostile environment?
• Equal access?
What is the role of a
university?
• Stanford founding grant: "to qualify students
for personal success and direct usefulness in
life; and to promote the public welfare by
exercising an influence on behalf of humanity
and civilization, teaching the blessings of
liberty regulated by law, and inculcating love
and reverence for the great principles of
government as derived from the inalienable
rights of man to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.”
• Robert Richards
The 90’s
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•1990: “Fundamental Standard
Interpretation: Free Expression and
Discriminatory Harassment”
•1991: UWM Post v. Board of Regents
of University of Wisconsin
•1992: R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul
•1992: Leonard Law
•1995: Corry v. Stanford
The Case Against Speech
Codes
• Leonard Law (1992)
• Difficulty of defining
“fighting words”
• Orthodoxy of popular
opinion
• Counter hate speech
with speech
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So… Where Are We Today?
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Free Speech areas
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From: www.toothpastefordinner.com, by Drew
Campus Disruptions
• Right to express views
• Concurrent obligation
Sexual Harassment
•“neither legally protected expression nor the
proper exercise of academic freedom; it
compromises the integrity of the University, its
tradition of intellectual freedom and the trust
placed in its members.”
Discussion questions
• Current university policy - still a “speech
code?”
• Is there still a role for punitive action against
speech?
• Sexual harassment - different from hate
speech?
• Orthodoxy of opinion on campus?