Free Speech
Free Speech, UW System
Wisconsin Regents Back Free Speech
MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin has become the latest university system to officially affirm the right to free speech and academic freedom for all students amid concerns that academia is trying to protect students from being offended by classroom lectures and discussions.
The system’s Board of Regents voted 16 to 2 on Friday to adopt a resolution stating that the university should not shield people from ideas or opinions they find unwelcome or offensive.
“These are not just pretty words we are going to put in a brass plaque,” said a regent, José Delgado. “You’ve got to be able to listen hard, even if it hurts.”
Civil rights advocates are concerned that universities are trying to limit free speech to protect students from feeling offended. Civil liberties supporters have also raised concerns over the use of “trigger warnings” to alert students about uncomfortable course content. On some campuses, groups have demonstrated against or canceled appearances by contentious speakers.
Via Wisconsin Regents Back Free Speech @ The New York Times.
Conservatives, Free Speech, Politics
Scared by Speech
I’m puzzling over what’s supposed to be bad here. What’s wrong with political activity in support of an ideology and what’s wrong with trying to take down politicians you oppose instead of looking for politicians to boost? Is it that the political group is able to raise funds for itself and keep its operation going rather than to use the money to get people elected? Isn’t this kind of ideological activity done on both the left and the right? The only problem I can detect — and this isn’t in the article — is that it works best at the political extremes: moderates and realists can’t use it.
Via Is it bad that “Conservative PACs Attack Republicans, and It Pays”? @ Althouse.
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Free Speech, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin First-Amendment War
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Free Speech, Politics
Madison Federalists’ Live Stream @ 12:30 PM
Hans von Spakovsky is the manager of the Heritage Foundation’s Election Law Reform Initiative. He studies and writes on elections issues such as campaign finance restrictions along with voter fraud and voter ID issues. He is the co-author of the book “Who’s Counting?: How Fraudsters and Bureaucrats Put Your Vote At Risk.” Before joining Heritage, von Spakovsky was responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws as a member of the Federal Election Commission.
Free Speech, Twitter, UW Madison
Cheerleading not in the job description
“It’s not a professor’s job to be a cheerleader for their institution, argues a blog post on the magazine website of the American Association of University Professors. ‘First, the assertion that academic freedom “requires responsible behavior” is wrong,’ says “The Academe Blog” post about the controversy swelling around University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Sara Goldrick-Rab and…
Free Speech, Law, Liberty, Wisconsin
The Price of Unlawful Conduct
“The lawyer representing six protesters who won a combined $44,830 in damages from the State of Wisconsin earlier this week says the total cost for unconstitutional arrests and fines handed out by Capitol Police since 2011 could ultimately run over $1 million. Attorney Jeff Scott Olson said that all of the protesters arrested under a…
Free Speech, Law, Wisconsin
Burdened, but still free
“Six more citizens won another free speech case against the Scott Walker administration who decided to close off the state Capitol to speech critical of Republicans after Walker infamously began publicly pursuing policies on which Walker refused to campaign. This case in Dane County Court follows other civil rights victories against Walker’s Dept of Administration…
Agriculture, Business, Crime, Environment, Factory Farming, Free Speech, Wisconsin
Ordinary residents threatened, attacked for opposing factory farms
Residents in Wood and Adams counties in central Wisconsin working to halt a massively polluting proposed industrial dairy operation, a CAFO, are crime victims being met by a new spate of theft, criminal destruction, intimidation and a possible cyber attack on a home in the Town of Saratoga. (Madden, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune) Via Homes…
Fashion, Free Speech, Law, Liberty, Madison, Schools
Restrictions on logos, words on clothing
Via Eugene Volokh thinks the Madison, Wisconsin school board is violating the First Amendment… @ Althouse.
Crime, Free Speech, Law, Politics
The New Normal
Via “If prosecuting politically unpopular speech becomes the ‘new normal,’ you can bet this tactic will be embraced by both parties” @ Althouse.
Crime, Free Speech, Madison, Police, Politics
Madison, Afternoon of 5.12.15
PRESS CONFERENCE & MARCH: Stand With Tony “Terrell” Robinson’s Family, Following the D.A. Announcement facebook link Tuesday MAY 12, 4PM 1202 Williamson St. Via #TonyRobinson MADISON TUES.: DA announcement, press conference, march WEDNESDAY.: Black-OUT, Willy St. Co-op Closed @ blue cheddar.
Free Speech, Marquette
Marquette as Enemy of Speech
Via Marquette and Kirsten Powers – ‘The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech’ @ FREEDOM EDEN.
Culture, Education, Free Speech, Marquette
Cure more dreadful than disease
Via Yet More Feminist Nonesense: Trigger Warnings @ Marquette Warrior.