Big win in the Supreme Court! Institutional neutrality at Harvard & Syracuse! FIRE & allies make the case for Priscilla Villarreal’s day in (the Supreme) Court!

Bringing you the latest free speech news (6/2/24)

Stories of the week

• In a big win for campus free speech, Harvard won’t issue statements on hot-button social and political issues by Angel Eduardo

Harvard has adopted principles of institutional neutrality similar to those described in the University of Chicago’s “Kalven Report” — which FIRE officially endorsed last fall. As FIRE explains, institutional neutrality is “the idea that colleges and universities should not, as institutions, take positions on social and political issues unless those issues ‘threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free inquiry.’ Instead, these discussions should be left to students and faculty.”

• SU releases ‘Syracuse Statement’ on academic freedom, free speech (The Daily Orange) by Julia Boehning

The statement highlights the importance of promoting “free expression and free inquiry” and “open deliberation” on campus. It also clarifies that these principles have limits, stating that the university will restrict speech “intended to incite violence, harass an individual based upon a protected characteristic, or which otherwise violates the law.”

The institutional neutrality portion is meant to encourage free expression and participation in discourse without fear of university retaliation, according to the statement.

This week in ERI

• ‘Canceling’ Readers! We need your feedback! by me

This week in FIRE’s blog

• Broad ‘friend of the court’ support pours into Supreme Court for citizen journalist Priscilla Villareal by Adam Steinbaugh & Colin McDonell

• Pledge allegiance or else: Maryland public school forces students and teachers to salute the flag

• Good day for freedom of expression and rule of law at Supreme Court

International free speech story of the week

• Rights activist Chow-Hang tung among 6 arrested over alleged sedition under Hong Kong’s new security law (HKFP) by Kelly Ho

London Calling: Ronnie’s First Amendment Rundown

National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo

Pretty obvious choice this week, no?  In NRA v. Vullo, the Supreme Court reaffirms the bedrock First Amendment principle that “A government official cannot coerce a private party to punish or suppress disfavored speech on her behalf.”  After former New York State Department of Financial Services superintendent Vullo leaned on insurers and banks to cut ties with the NRA – in the name of the state’s support of gun control and related disapproval of pro-gun and gun-rights advocacy – NRA sued to assert its First Amendment rights. The Court reconfirms what it said in Bantam Books 60+ years ago, i.e., that such shameless strongarming violates the First Amendment – so, if the NRA proves its allegations, Vullo violated its constitutional rights. As FIRE’s Chief Counsel put it, “The coercive tactics used by New York officials were a naked attempt to evade the Constitution.” So, the Court sent “a clear message that the government cannot use its bully pulpit to censor speech it doesn’t like without violating the First Amendment.” That’s why FIRE asked the Court to hear the case, and it’s why we urged this result.

TV show of the month

The show of the month is season five of “Angel.” JUST SEASON FIVE.

As some of you know, I’m a big fan of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The spinoff, “Angel,” is not nearly as successful and had some pretty ponderous seasons, but its final season was amazing. 

The premise was that his team of “sometimes morally flexible” do-gooders had saved the world by saving us from a supposedly benign, loving force that was nonetheless trying to enslave the human race. For having accomplished something so great against the forces of good, Angel and his team are given the keys — quite literally — to one of the series’ truly awesome creations: Wolfram & Hart. 

Wolfram & Hart is an EVIL law firm. I know, I know — that may sound redundant, but what I mean here is, it’s actually run for other-dimensional, super evil demons lovingly referred to as the “senior partners.” The team decides to take on the challenge, and the question of the entire season is: can you use evil to do good? 

It’s never clearly or easily answered, and the team is constantly tempted to use their new wealth and power for selfish reasons. It is one of the best seasons in the entire Buffy-verse, and the final episode of “Angel” has one of the most, shall we say, morally interesting conclusions to a series ever.

They also add James Marsters’s Spike to the cast, which creates a terrifically funny dynamic between Buffy’s two ex-boyfriends.  And the cast gets turned into Muppets.