Challenges to Freedom of Speech on College Campuses

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.