SYDNEY: A NATIONAL GROUP TAKES
AIM AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS OVER ITS POLICIES AIMING
TO CREATE A WELCOMING CAMPUS.
THE SMALL GOVERNMENT GROUP
SPEECH FIRST CLAIMS THE
UNIVERSITY IS STIFLING FREE
SPEECH ON CAMPUS.KXAN'S
POLITICAL REPORTER PHIL PRAZAN
IS LIVE AT UT-AUSTIN WITH
DETAILS.SYDNEY, THE GROUP IS
SUING OVER THE UNIVERSITY'S
SPEECH POLICIES, RESIDENCE
HALL MANUALS, AND ITS CAMPUS
CLIMATE RESPONSE TEAM.THEY ALL
CAN LEAD UT TO LOOK INTO
ISSUES WHEN A STUDENT FEELS
THREATENED OR OFFENDED BY
SOMETHING ANOTHER STUDENT DOES
OR SAYS.THEY'RE MEANT TO
DISCOURAGE RACIST, SEXIST,
BIGOTED LANGUAGE.BUT SPEECH
FIRST, INC SAYS THOSE EFFORTS
ALSO CRACK DOWN ON FREE
SPEECH.
THE LAWSUIT HIGHLIGHTS SEVERAL
CONTROVERSIAL STUDENT EVENTS
THAT WERE MEANT TO START A
DIALOGUE.TEMPERS FLARED WHEN
MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG
CONSERVATIVES OF TEXAS SET UP
A TABLE SUPPORTING NOW JUSTICE
BRETT KAVANAUGH AFTER HE WAS
ACCUSED BUT NEVER CONVICTED OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT.THE UNIVERSITY
CRACKING DOWN ON THEMED
HALLOWEEN PARTIES LIKE
"COUNTRY" OR "BORDER-THEMED"
THAT COULD ENCOURAGE BIGOTED
COSTUMES.THEN, THERE'S ANOTHER
YOUNG CONSERVATIVE EVENT IN
2013.THEY WANTED TO GIVE AWAY
GIFT CARDS AFTER PEOPLE
DRESSED UP TO QUOTE - "CATCH
AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT."I ASKED
THE PLAINTIFF, NICOLE NIELY
FROM SPEECH FIRST, DOESN'T THE
UNIVERSITY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
IN ENCOURAGING A WELCOMING
ATMOSPHERE?NICOLE NIELY,
PHONER GRAPHIC - 14:38:05 - I
HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PEERS
SHUNNING EACH OTHER. STUDENTS
SAYING YOU'RE A JERK, WE DON'T
WANT TO HANG OUT WITH YOU.
WHAT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
IS A SCHOOL AS A STATE ACTOR
STEPPING IN AND PICKING
WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THIS."
14:38:16SPOKESMAN FOR UT-
AUSTIN, JB BIRD TOLD ME UT
POLICIES VIGOROUSLY PROTECT
STUDENT'S FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.HE SAYS STUDENTS...
"HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE,
TO SPEAK, AND TO ATTEMPT TO
ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF
OTHERS, AND CORRESPONDING
RIGHTS TO HEAR THE SPEECH OF
OTHERS WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO
LISTEN, AND TO IGNORE THE
SPEECH OF OTHERS WHEN THEY
CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN."HE SAYS
THEY'RE REVIEWING THE LAWSUIT
AND SAYS IT IS INCOMPLETE ON
CERTAIN FACTS.THEY'LL TAKE IT
UP IN THE COURT SYSTEM FROM
NOW ON.LIVE AT UT AUSTIN. PHIL
PRAZAN.KXAN NEWS.
SYDNEY: THE SAME ORGANIZATION
HAS FILED A VERY SIMILAR
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN.. AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FILED A
STATEMENT IN THE CASE. IT
SAYS THE SCHOOL'S "STATEMENT
OF STUDENT RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES" , WHICH
PROHIBITS â
â
ââ
ââ
UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT
OFFERS NO CLEAR, OBJECTIVE
DEFINITIONS OF THE VIOLATIONS.
INSTEAD, THE STATEMENT REFERS
STUDENTS TO A WIDE ARRAY OF
â
INTERPRETATIONS THAT EXIST FOR
THE TERMS,â
DEPEND ON A LISTENERâ(tm)S
