Dave Barry on Campus Free Speech (VIDEO)

Today, my organization, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), released a new video featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry. In the video, Dave discusses the importance of freedom of expression, the state of free speech on college campuses, and the culture of censorship. He also talks about an amazing FIRE case that he was a part of in 2006 when Marquette University in Wisconsin actually censored one of his quotes:

At the end of the video, FIRE Vice President Robert Shibley mentions three other almost unbelievable cases. You can watch videos on our YouTube page about the student who was expelled for a collage, the student found guilty of harassment for silently reading a book, and the major state university that required students to disclose their sexual preferences.

Comments

[LMPE]

In Lewis & Clark College, we were always allowed to challenge what the professors said. Hell, the professors encouraged it.

In one class during my senior year, I wrote a story - based on "Little Red Riding Hood" - based on Dave Barry's writing style.

[Alexander McCobin]

Sorry, the link is www.politicalconferences.org.

[Alexander McCobin]

FIRE is an incredible organization doing amazing things for students all over. We are lucky to have them around to protect our rights when administrations and others refuse to do so.

FIRE's founder, Dr. Alan Charles Kors, will be speaking at Students For Liberty's Philadelphia Conference on November 7th at Drexel University: www.poltiicalconferences.org. Adam Kissel, the director of the defense program at FIRE will also be talking about students rights. This is a great opportunity to see strong advocates of freedom of speech teaching students about the importance of protecting that freedom and how to do so.

[yankees]

He's right. The Universities in this country are the most discriminatory places in the USA. There is no freedom of speech in the classrooms, on the Bulletin Boards, Newspapers or the Guest Speaker program. Even if you are a Moderate Democrat they come down on you and your ideas despite the fact that we helped make the Congress and the Presidency Democratic.
Who gives these Universities, especially State Institutions, the right to say what is political correct?
It's the Universities responsibility to educate students with all opposing ideas and thoughts and make them choose in which to believe.

[JustinAddison]

I'm with Dave. The worst trend I see in our Democratic party is the growing animosity toward free speech. There are constant posts on this site about increasing the power of the FCC and shutting out dissenting viewpoints. A dangerous direction to go in my opinion.

[BobLablah]

Liberals are the greatest threat to free speech on campus. They prefer group-think and talk.

[sedonakate]

Put two liberals in a room and you'll have a lively debate, if not fisticuffs. Put two right-wingers in a room and you'll have ... The Base.