After being flagged as a “red light” college for issues related to freedom of speech last year, the University has reformed its speech codes to ensure that it does not abridge students’ constitutional rights.
The “red light” rating — one notch above “red alert” — came from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which began critiquing the state of free speech at the top 25 universities in the country last year. The critique led the University to alter or abolish four of its speech codes, and FIRE announced Oct. 28 that it had granted the University a “green light award.”
The issue of free speech came into the spotlight in April 2010 when students for Individual Liberty and the Liberty Coalition sponsored a speech by Adam Kissel, vice president of programs at FIRE. Dean of Students Allen Groves spoke with Kissel following the speech to convey the University’s willingness to change any unconstitutional prohibitions on speech or any confusing wording.
Shortly afterward, Groves received a letter from Kissel detailing FIRE’s concern with certain policies at the University.
Along with the letter, Kissel made sure to note that FIRE succeeded in working with the College of William & Mary in October 2009 in revising problematic speech policies, thus achieving “green light” status. “FIRE would be very pleased to help the University of Virginia reach the same constitutional standard so that it may be known as a true ‘marketplace of ideas,’” he wrote.
Read the full story at the Cavalier Daily.
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