6/3/2019 Group Watch: Campus Free Speech Safeguarded
In an attempt to encourage and protect the free and open exchange of ideas at Alabama’s tax-funded public higher education institutions, a bill passed by a 24-1 vote in the Senate and a 73-26 vote in the House requires these institutions to develop and implement free-speech policies for their campuses. These policies have to include language that designate a campus’ outdoor areas as available forums for speech for any member of the campus community. On the flip side, the bill disallows the formation of “free-speech” zones, spots on campus where certain speech can be corralled when and if it is deemed “offensive” by a group or by administration. If the bill becomes law, Alabama will be the 17th state to have such a law.
