ACLU, where are you? Campus tyranny and the ACLU’s silence.
Posted on December 10, 2006
As “the foremost defender of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” (Glib Note: I’m sure our men and women in the US Armed Forces would have a little problem with this gas-baggish self-description) you’d think that the ACLU would be laying waste to the fascistic regimes that have implemented and enforced the constitutional abominations known as speech codes and “non-discrimination policies” on university campuses all across the country. I don’t believe in criticizing a group when an individual case arises and that group happens to not have been involved in that singular incident. However, the university campus as whole feels it (yes, I speak of “it” as a monolith because this issue is a fixture at most public universities in the country, I’ll get to that) is exempt from the First Amendment…supposedly the ACLU’s bread and butter. No other government entity has so systematically and unapologetically violated, as a matter of published policy, the very basic freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) released a study this week that empirically hammers this point home:
The report’s findings include:
Public colleges and universities are disregarding their constitutional obligations.
More than 73% of public universities surveyed maintain unconstitutional speech codes, despite numerous federal court decisions striking down similar or identical policies.
Most private colleges and universities promise free speech, but usually do not deliver. Unlike public universities, private universities are not legally bound by the First Amendment. However, most of them explicitly promise free speech rights to their students and faculty. For example, Boston University promises “the right to teach and to learn in an atmosphere of unfettered free inquiry and exposition.†Unfortunately, it also prohibits speech that would be constitutionally protected in society at large, such as “annoying†electronic communications and expressions of opinion that do not “show respect for the aesthetic, social, moral, and religious feelings of others.â€Â
Overall, the report reveals that more than 68% of the colleges and universities surveyed maintain policies that “both clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech.â€Â
Overbroad and vague speech codes from the 2005-2006 academic year include:
Macalester College bans “speech that makes use of inappropriate words or non-verbals.â€Â
Furman University (Glib Note: my wife’s alma mater, a supposedly conservative university recently affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, I was just on the campus last week, quite lovely) bans any “offensive communication not in keeping with community standards.â€Â
At the University of Mississippi, “offensive language is not to be used†over the telephone.
The University of North Carolina–Greensboro prohibits “disrespect for persons.â€Â
So why has the ACLU ignored such an obvious target that would allow it to demonstrate its First Amendment fealty? Well it’s just another example of the ACLU’s hypocrisy. The university is the last station in what the ACLU hopes will have been a steady diet and rigorous regimen of Leftist orthodoxy from birth (and instant abandonment in day care) until at least 22. The old saying goes, “Give me a child until seven and I’ll give you the man,” but groups like the ACLU and their sub-intellectual allies in the universities want to three-up that just to make sure they’ve captured minds and emptied souls. The ACLU allows the fascism (no, this is not hyperbole, it’s calling a spade a spade) to continue without comment because those strong-arm policies marginalize the very people, ideas and organizations the ACLU would gladly see just dry up and go away.
But where the ACLU has purposely failed, others have stepped in strong. It’s amazing that it takes “radical Right” organizations to draw the line in the sand and stand up for liberty on campus…
The Alliance Defense Fund recently threw its resources behind the campus battle by bringing former FIRE president David French aboard to lead a team of attorneys as head of ADF’s Center for Academic Freedom. There has already been a major impact: taking down speech codes and “non-discrimination” policies, coming to the aid of long-standing and upstanding members of the campus community when the university suddenly decides to eject them or cut their funding, exposing the universities when they decide to forbid an RA from holding a Bible study in his own room or attempt to force social work student to write legislators in favor of homosexual adoption or charge a Quaker pacifist librarian with “sexual harrasment” for the “crime” of recommending a conservative book for a freshman reading program.
Just this week, a Christian fraternity that was kicked off campus at the University of Georgia sued UGA which immediately turned tail when it got caught with its hand in the constitutional cookie jar. Think UGA, would have acted this way had it not been hit with a federal lawsuit? No, if not caught, it would have been Power-Shred Setting for any copies of the US Constitution that may still be around somewhere on campus. This is the University of Georgia, folks!
Center for Academic Freedom’s website.
Imagine the ultra-wealthy ACLU, with its half-billion dollar endowment and $150M annual operating budget, having done this ten years ago. With ADF’s CAF having won so many victories in such short order, the result of this “what if” would not be so hard to predict. If the ACLU REALLY cared about the First Amendment and held universities accountable, instead of allowing its breeding ground to be a laboratory for the ugly future society it prefers, the college campus would be a freer place today. Alas, the ACLU proves once again that it couldn’t give a rip about the First Amendment beyond the ruffle-and-flourish cover it provides its dark intent.
» Filed Under Uncategorized
Trackback URL
Comments
5 Responses to “ACLU, where are you? Campus tyranny and the ACLU’s silence.”
Affiliations
The Giants
-
Donate
Suggestions
Our Store
Click the design to visit our store and help Stop the ACLU!
More blogs about the ACLU
Speaking of gasbags, I’m convinced I’ve never seen anyone struggle to go so far over the top (and succeed) without making a single valid point. Have you ever been on a college campus yourself, except to gawk at chicks?
Even if you do come up with something a little less hysterical and more accurate sometime, jeez, try toning it down just a little.
“without making a single valid point”
You are accusing me of making no point? That’s kind of like Michael Jackson questioning Stone Cold Steve Austin’s masculinity.
If you can’t understand some fairly simple language and easily supportable conclusions, the problem isn’t mine buddy. If you in fact CAN understand what I have written and find it all so objectionable, why not attempt to show me where I have erred instead of commenting just to comment?
Speech codes aren’t often enacted from what I can tell but the simple fact that they are there is a bit alarming. (What exactly constitutes “offensive speech” anyway? And why should anyone’s DESIRE to not be offended interfere with my right to speak my mind?)
What Glib is saying is basically that, plus some references where they are used. He also says it is telling that the self-proclaimed defenders of personal liberties are strangely absent when it’s got anything to do with Christianity or conservatives.
Article summary in 2 paragraphs. Simple enough to understand, Paul?
Bear in mind, this is coming from someone who is currently almost done with his tour in college.
I am more concerned what community is deciding the values. Is it the Atheist, the Hedonist, or some other such group?
“why has the ACLU ignored such an obvious target”
Did you try Googling this before you made the claim? Less than a week ago, we find on FIRE’s website, that the ACLU sued the Rhode Island College.
A few links down on the google search and we find that the ACLU was the mover on Iota XI v. GMU, the first Federal case to knock down speech codes.
I mean, for crying out loud, it would have taken you 5 seconds to find out that the ACLU has never supported Campus Speech codes!