The BC chapter of the American Association of University Professors hosted a virtual forum, welcoming Melnick, Lindsey O’Rourke, Kent Greenfield, and Patricia Lowe to discuss academic freedom and campus speech on Tuesday evening.
Professor Melnick is Right, We Have a Free Speech Problem … So Now What?
R. Shep Melnick—the Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. professor of American politics—recently submitted an op-ed to The Heights titled “Our Free Speech Problem.” In his op-ed, Melnick observes the “disturbing” reality that “too many students are afraid to discuss controversial topics, and a significant minority think they are justified in preventing those they disagree with from…
Our Free Speech Problem
As Olivia Strong reported in a Heights article last semester, Boston College fared extremely poorly in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) ranking of free speech on campus—151th out of the 159 colleges included in the survey. Our ranking in this widely disseminated study is embarrassing. Far more disturbing, though, is what the…
BC Ranked No. 151 of 159 U.S. Colleges for Free Speech
In early October, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), in conjunction with College Pulse and RealClearEducation, released a report ranking the free speech climate at American colleges. Boston College, a university unaccustomed to finding itself at the bottom of rankings, was ranked 151 out of 154, with a total of 159 schools surveyed.
LTE: In Response to: “Two Students Accused of Property Damage For Chalking”
“This is because the snowflakes at BC aren’t college students. They’re administrators.”
Experts in Law Praise Free Speech on College Campuses
“There’s so much that colleges and universities can do, so as to make sure that it’s an inclusive community for all students,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California at Berkeley School of Law.
Protecting Free Speech in College
“In the Twentieth century, radical leftists were ostracized, but today, people target anyone from a moderately right leaning politician to a classical libertarian.”
The Irony of “Free Speech”
“Yet, time and time again, campus conservatives do exactly what they accuse the left of doing: silencing people’s right to speak.”
Universities Nationwide Must Guarantee Freedom of Speech
“In today’s starkly divided America, such mutual understanding and capability for communication is essential for bridging the gaps that exist between us.”
When Unregistered Means Unwanted
“We all deserve the right to voice our opinions. Forcing students to get approval for demonstrations is effectively censoring us, and we need spaces that are available for everyone to voice their ideas.”