[LOU] Free speech is an important issue on college campuses.
Some say that free speech is threatened in even the most prestigious institutions of academia.
Which is why it's so important for 
college students to know when their
first amendment rights are being violated, or when they're just being assholes.
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[BARRY] So, if it's a public college,
then they have to abide by first amendment free speech protections for students.
If it's a private college, generally not, although some laws, like federal funding laws,
make private colleges agree to honor first amendment principles as a condition of getting the funding,
or sometimes state laws require that.
[LOU] At Georgetown Law, a student got in trouble for handing out Bernie Sanders literature.
Legit first amendment issue,
or is that student an a-hole?
[BARRY] Even Georgetown might be subject to first amendment restrictions,
if they receive federal funding that requires it, or if, say, a federal law requires it for some reason.
[LOU] So, would it make a difference if he was dressed like Bernie Sanders while he did it?
[BARRY] I don't think the way he's dressed is going to affect the legal analysis.
[LOU] So much for the revolution.
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[LOU] Back in 1969, there was a case where students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
[BARRY] Yes, that was the Tinker vs...
[LOU] Des Moines.
[BARRY] Des Moines School District case, where some students wanted to wear a black armband to school,
in order to protest the Vietnam War, and they were sent home and told that they couldn't do that.
The school attempted to justify it on the basis of that it would disrupt the teaching activities.
The Supreme Court said there was no evidence of that,
and generally said that students do not shed their free speech rights at the gate of the school house.
And so the Court said that the students were entitled to wear the armbands,
unless they caused substantial disruption to the educational mission of the school,
or it invaded the rights of other students.
Neither of which the Court found was
applicable in that case.
[LOU] What if you were wearing nothing but a black armband to school?
[BARRY] You mean you were nude?
[LOU] Well, you are wearing a black armband.
[BARRY] Yeah, you're pretty much a jerk,
and you're probably gonna get arrested for just violating general public nudity laws.
[LOU] Even if you graduated from that school 16 years ago and you're just going back to see your old professor,
and you're just, like, so excited?
[LOU] Thanks for watching guys!
If there are any scenarios that you're not sure whether they fall into the first amendment side,
or being an asshole side, or a little bit of both, be sure to mention them in the comment section.
And make sure to subscribe to We The Internet TV.
