Great Lakes Wire

On Sep 26th, David Voorman, senior policy analyst at Americans for Prosperity Michigan, praised the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for addressing First Amendment freedom threats in colleges and universities on September 26th. The organization emphasizes the defense of constitutional rights for students and scholars and advocates for open and civil debate in higher education.

"We commend the committee for prioritizing and raising awareness of the state of free speech at colleges and universities," said David Voorman. "Americans don’t give up their constitutional rights when they step onto campus, and we work to ensure those foundational liberties are defended for students and scholars. Research continues to show there remains work to do. Public universities are bound by the Constitution, but unfortunately many are failing."

Americans for Prosperity commends the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for addressing threats to First Amendment freedoms in colleges and universities and emphasizes the importance of defending constitutional rights for students and scholars while advocating for open and civil debate in higher education.

A comprehensive survey conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) in collaboration with College Pulse, involving over 55,000 students nationwide, has unveiled a disconcerting trend wherein numerous colleges and universities prioritize restrictions on free expression over fostering open dialogue. The fourth annual College Free Speech Rankings, encompassing 248 major campuses, positions Michigan Technological University at the pinnacle for its commitment to promoting free speech, while Harvard University registers the lowest score ever recorded. The rankings took into account student responses, how institutions handled deplatforming efforts, and their adherence to speech code standards. This report underscores the troubling erosion of free speech rights in educational institutions, even at prestigious universities, which may curtail students' fundamental freedoms.

Crucial findings from the report include Harvard University ranking as the most inhospitable institution for free speech, receiving an "Abysmal" rating. Moreover, deplatforming attempts at schools in the lowest five slots had an alarming success rate of 81%. The survey also revealed a significant portion of students opposing the presence of both conservative and liberal speakers on campus, with 73% of students asserting that using violence to suppress speeches on campus is unacceptable, albeit marking a decline from the 80% figure recorded in the previous year. The report emphasizes the pressing need to address these challenges to safeguard open and respectful discourse within higher education institutions.

In a recent report focusing on academic free speech, seven Michigan colleges have received a concerning "red-light" rating for their policies regarding student conduct, as evaluated by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). This assessment, presented in the report titled "State of the Speech Codes: Michigan," demonstrates that over a quarter of the surveyed schools (approximately 27%) earned a "red-light" rating, indicating restrictions on freedom of speech or limited public access to speech-related policies.

The red-light-rated institutions in Michigan encompass both public and private schools, including Grand Rapids Community College, Lake Superior State University, Muskegon Community College, Oakland University, Western Michigan University, Aquinas College, and Davenport University. While Davenport University defended its policies as necessary for preventing "acts of aggression," the report found that these red-light schools often had overly broad harassment policies. Notably, the report highlights that these institutions need to align their policies with the principles of the First Amendment while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for their students.