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RU Speechless?

Free Speech in Higher Education

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Quizzes

Student press law center – First Amendment quiz

Student press law center – Student press law quiz

Fraternity / Sorority sign ban in Radford

City ordinances specifically ban the display of 'Greek' signs on houses in Radford's university district.
The Problem is that any government unit’s regulation of the specific content of speech is subject to strict scrutiny review by the courts. Under this review, government must prove that a regulation is:
1) necessary to achieve a “compelling state interest“ 
2) “narrowly tailored” to achieve this compelling interest; a
3) uses the “least restrictive means” to achieve the purpose.   
 Ordinances 120.1-64 and 120.1- 239 fail this test. 

Academic Freedom

Teddy Roosevelt picture from Duke University.
Teddy Roosevelt speaks at Duke University, 1903: “You stand for Academic Freedom, for the right of private judgment, for a duty more incumbent upon the scholar than upon any other man, to tell the truth as he sees it, to claim for himself and to give to others the largest liberty in seeking after the truth.” - US President Teddy Roosevelt, 1903

Current events

  • Barnard adopts new standard for freedom of speech, academic freedom - Columbia Daily Spectator
    November 1, 2026
    Barnard adopts new standard for freedom of speech, academic freedom  Columbia Daily Spectator
  • Opinion: Reclaiming Public University —autonomy, power and academic freedom - Telangana Today
    October 29, 2026
    Opinion: Reclaiming Public University —autonomy, power and academic freedom  Telangana Today
  • No academic freedom principles without procedure - Yale Daily News
    October 27, 2026
    No academic freedom principles without procedure  Yale Daily News
  • Concerns over academic freedom at Chase Center raised and debated at University Senate meeting - The Lantern
    October 23, 2026
    Concerns over academic freedom at Chase Center raised and debated at University Senate meeting  The Lantern
  • KNAW: Strengthen Academic Freedom in Law and Practice - Mirage News
    October 21, 2026
    KNAW: Strengthen Academic Freedom in Law and Practice  Mirage News
  • Rutgers Unions Win Academic Freedom for All Unit Members - Inside Higher Ed
    October 19, 2026
    Rutgers Unions Win Academic Freedom for All Unit Members  Inside Higher Ed
  • UTRGV faculty raise concerns over academic freedom due to new Texas law - MyRGV.com
    October 16, 2026
    UTRGV faculty raise concerns over academic freedom due to new Texas law  MyRGV.com
  • Academic freedom in danger, scholar cautions - NB Media Co-op
    October 15, 2026
    Academic freedom in danger, scholar cautions  NB Media Co-op
  • Academic freedom: The freedom to teach, discover, and serve - Virginia Tech News
    October 13, 2026
    Academic freedom: The freedom to teach, discover, and serve  Virginia Tech News
  • Lessons from the frontlines of the fight for academic freedom - AFT - American Federation of Teachers
    October 8, 2026
    Lessons from the frontlines of the fight for academic freedom  AFT - American Federation of Teachers

More current events

From shuttered print editions to firings, student journalists clash with universities March 21, 2026 https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0321/student-journalism-first-amendment

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