Reason – by Robby SoaveSouthern Oregon University administrators told students that they couldn’t freely distribute copies of the Constitution out in the open, on public university property. Officials tried to usher the students indoors, to the preposterously unconstitutional “free speech zone” where political activity is deemed permissible.
The students, who wish to start a Students for Concealed Carry chapter at the university, recorded their interactions with various officials. The footage was published by Campus Reform. One telling exchange with an administrator who defended the free speech zone:
“Clearly there is a number of reasons why [the free speech zone] exists. I think we need to look at all those, good, bad, and indifferent. It’s not just abut the free speech of students. When you open it up to free speech that means anyone, anywhere can come on and do that and that might create some other challenges for this campus that we are not prepared to manage.”
My goodness, what is he afraid of? It’s a public university: Anyone, anywhere should be able to walk onto the campus and express opinions!
The students wisely asserted their First Amendment right to canvass wherever they want. The administrators, on the other hand, seemingly made an effort not to address the fundamental free speech argument—and have decided not to take any disciplinary action against the students—which leads me to believe that they were well aware they would lose. Is the point of college merely to trick teenagers into thinking their rights are nonexistent?
A reminder: When colleges push this, the Foundation for Individual Rights eviscerates them.
Hat tip: Fox News
http://reason.com/blog/2014/10/16/how-does-this-still-happen-southern-oreg