Tackling UM’s Restriction on Campus Political Speech: New York Times

tags: free speech, university policy, political environment.
Preparing for an Onslaught of Democratic Money, Republicans Vow to Push Back.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/university-minnesota-political-speech.html
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tags: university of minnesota, political speech, first amendment, policy change.
In a move sparking controversy, the University of Minnesota has caused a stir by updating its political speech policy. However, critics accuse the university of potentially censoring outside speakers, effectively weakening free speech restrictions on campus. Rochester Assemblyman Steve McKeever lambasted the revised policy, asserting that this undermines the principles upheld by the First Amendment. The new policy, dubbed “Motion 22,” allows the University to investigate instances where outside speakers violate free speech but does not specify any retribution. This has raised questions about the university’s commitment to protecting First Amendment rights explicitly outlined in the policy’s previous iteration. The initial policy met strict judicial mandates and federal court rulings, and the university’s decision to modify it has garnered push back from faculty who believe that such revisions “raise grave concerns about academic freedom on this campus.” This move has sparked a debate about whether the University’s proposed changes infringe on outside speakers’ First Amendment rights, and if the policy’s revised language weakens freedoms obtained when adjudicating violations.

The original article