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Hearing Hearing Date: July 27, 2017 9:00 am 2154 Rayburn HOB

Challenges to Freedom of Speech on College Campuses

Subject
Challenges to Freedom of Speech on College Campuses
Date
July 27, 2017
Time
9:00 am
Place
2154 Rayburn HOB

PURPOSE:

  • To identify the harms of infringing on the right to free speech on college campuses. 
  • To explore recommendations on how to encourage and protect First Amendment rights, as well as intellectual and ideological diversity, on college campuses. 
  • To understand administrators’ concerns about public safety and controversial speakers on campus, which sometimes lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech.

BACKGROUND:

  • In recent years, failures by college administrators and rising intolerance among college students have led to a number of disturbing and, at times, violent anti-speech incidents on college campuses.
  • While students’ constitutionally protected right to free speech is under attack on campuses, these schools receive billions of dollars each year from federal taxpayers. 
  • Some of the witnesses will be able to speak firsthand about speech suppression on campus, including having been shouted down, threatened, and disinvited.
Witnesses and testimonies: Ms. Nadine Strossen

John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law
New York Law School

Mr. Ben Shapiro

Editor-in-Chief
The Daily Wire

Mr. Adam Carolla

Comedian and Filmmaker
No Safe Spaces Documentary

Dr. Michael Zimmerman

Former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Evergreen State College

Mr. Frederick Lawrence

Secretary and CEO, The Phi Beta Kappa Society
Anti-Defamation League