1. "Sinclair Community College has banned a student from distributing literature about abortion, birth control, and breast cancer to her classmates after class. The college also bans all distribution of literature on vast areas of campus.
2. The right to distribute literature about controversial topics is one of Americans most hallowed rights, FIRE [Foundation for Individual Rights in Education ] President Greg Lukianoff said. If someones claim to be offended by speech were all it took to overrule the First Amendment, we would all be reduced to silence. Thankfully the Constitution does not recognize a right not to be offended.
3. On February 22, FIRE sent a letter to SCC President Steven Lee Johnson, making clear that while SCC instructors may limit the expression of students during class time in the service of SCCs educational mission, such narrowly tailored restrictions for instructional purposes cannot lawfully be extended to restrict all distribution of literature outside of class time.
4. However, the school defended their restriction of free speech rights.
So
FIRE wrote Johnson a second letter on March 23, copying Ohio Governor John R. Kasich and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. FIRE asked Johnson to bring SCCs policies into compliance with the First Amendment and to reply by March 30, but SCC has not responded. "
Dear College Officials: Apply the Constitution
5. It is critical to defend the Constitution, our rights under same...especially when so many folks see their 'good intentions' as superior to it.
2. The right to distribute literature about controversial topics is one of Americans most hallowed rights, FIRE [Foundation for Individual Rights in Education ] President Greg Lukianoff said. If someones claim to be offended by speech were all it took to overrule the First Amendment, we would all be reduced to silence. Thankfully the Constitution does not recognize a right not to be offended.
3. On February 22, FIRE sent a letter to SCC President Steven Lee Johnson, making clear that while SCC instructors may limit the expression of students during class time in the service of SCCs educational mission, such narrowly tailored restrictions for instructional purposes cannot lawfully be extended to restrict all distribution of literature outside of class time.
4. However, the school defended their restriction of free speech rights.
So
FIRE wrote Johnson a second letter on March 23, copying Ohio Governor John R. Kasich and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. FIRE asked Johnson to bring SCCs policies into compliance with the First Amendment and to reply by March 30, but SCC has not responded. "
Dear College Officials: Apply the Constitution
5. It is critical to defend the Constitution, our rights under same...especially when so many folks see their 'good intentions' as superior to it.