College students in Texas challenge the enactment of a law prohibiting expansive campus rhetoric
In the Western District of Texas, a lawsuit has been filed against Senate Bill 2972, a new Texas law that limits on-campus protests. The defendants in the suit include the UT System Board of Regents, UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas, UT Austin President Jim Davis, UT Dallas President Prabhas V. Moghe, and the University of Texas at Dallas' independently operated student newspaper, The Retrograde, which is one of the plaintiffs in the suit.
The law, enacted on Sept. 1, 2022, requires public universities and colleges to adopt policies that prohibit certain expressive activities, such as the use of bullhorns and drums, on-campus speakers during the last two weeks of a semester, and demonstrations between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
The bill was enacted in response to pro-Palestinian rallies and protests that took place on college campuses nationwide. However, numerous University of Texas system student groups, including Young Americans for Liberty, The Society of Unconventional Drummers, Strings Attached, and others, are seeking a preliminary injunction against the bill.
The University of Texas at Dallas' Editor-In-Chief, Gregorio Olivares Gutierrez, stated that the law would prohibit The Retrograde's coverage after 10 p.m. Additionally, the Fellowship of Christian University Students at UT-Dallas could be prevented from inviting an off-campus minister to lead a prayer during finals under SB 2972.
FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, has taken up the case. Bill Zeeble, KERA's education reporter, reported that JT Morris, FIRE's senior supervising attorney, said in a news release that the First Amendment doesn't set when the sun goes down, and that university students have expressive freedom regardless of the time of day.
KERA sought comment from all defendants, but the UT System declined to provide a statement due to litigation. The article does not provide information about any comment from UT Austin President Jim Davis or UT Dallas President Prabhas V. Moghe.
The bill recognizes freedom of speech and assembly as central to the mission of institutions of higher education. However, the student plaintiffs argue that the law infringes on their First Amendment rights. The case is ongoing, and the outcome could have significant implications for the future of free speech on college campuses in Texas.
If you have any tips, you can contact KERA at [email protected]. Bill Zeeble can also be followed on Twitter @bzeeble for the latest updates on this developing story.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
