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Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are trying again with a new set of free speech rules at UW campuses.
Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, on Tuesday re-introduced legislation that would “establish freedom of expression and academic freedom standards” on all of the university’s campuses.
“Students routinely face viewpoint hostility from peers and faculty, forcing many to self-censor or fear academic retaliation. This bill will ensure that free speech is not stifled on our college campuses," Nedweski said in a statement.
The legislation comes, of course, after Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a university in Utah. But it also comes after the latest Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression campus free speech rankings. The UW earned an F grade in self-censorship, administrative support, and political tolerance.
That FIRE report also said, for the first time ever, nearly a third of college students said it was acceptable to shout down or lock a controversial speaker off of a campus.
“When more than 1 out of every 3 students believe that violence is an acceptable way to shut down speech, we have a crisis,” Nedweski added. “Charlie Kirk’s tragic murder—and the disturbing celebrations of it coming from some within academia—should serve as a sobering reminder to us all. When society begins to accept the false premise that dissenting speech is equivalent to violence, we create a culture where violence replaces discourse.”
Nedweski is joined by Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton, Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville, and Rep. Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing, in sponsoring the new bill.
If it becomes law, all UW schools will need to have clear and public free speech rules. The new legislation also adds speech protections for virtual spaces.
If not, UW schools will face a possible five-year tuition freeze and possible lawsuits.
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