Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comment from Alliance Defending Freedom.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) will eliminate several speech policies that restrict free speech after settling a lawsuit filed by a student organization, according to conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
The university agreed to eliminate its “free speech zones,” which are designated areas for public speech, and a policy that required students to obtain a permit three days in advance before speaking on campus property, according to ADF’s press release. ADF represented the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) chapter and student Joshua Greer, who alleged that the university enforced on-campus speech codes that violated the Alabama Campus Free Speech Act and the state constitution. (RELATED: ‘Students Can’t Even Express An Opinion’: Major University Sued Over Speech Policies)
“All students—regardless of viewpoint—have the freedom to share their beliefs and engage in civil debate on campus without first asking college administrators for permission to speak or limiting their speech to certain zones on campus,” Mathew Hoffmann, legal counsel at ADF, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We are grateful that the university has recognized those foundational freedoms and agreed to changes its policies. While this basic recognition of speech rights should not have taken nearly two years of litigation, we are happy to see University of Alabama in Huntsville taking steps to ensure its policies are in accordance with Alabama state law and fair to all students.”
FREE SPEECH WIN: ADF attorneys have favorably settled a lawsuit on behalf of an @YALiberty chapter against the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The university has agreed to change its policy to respect the free speech rights of students on campus.
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) April 4, 2023
The Circuit Court of Madison County issued a consent order on Monday affirming that the lawsuit would be dropped once the policy changes were made. The lawsuit was filed in July 2021, according to the complaint.
The free speech watchdog group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), published a survey which found that a majority of colleges has at least one policy that violates freedom of speech. The topic has garnered nationwide interest, and a Congressional subcommittee held a hearing on March 29 titled “Diversity of Thought: Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses.
“Often, universities deny that their illegal restrictions on speech prevent students from speaking and assembling freely. However, when we see cases such as this—where a university goes to great lengths to defend its restrictions—we understand that actions are louder than words and that students must be vigilant and stick to their principles against university bureaucrats,” JP Kirby, YAL director of Student Rights, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “I’m thankful for Joshua Greer, the YAL team, and Alliance Defending Freedom for seeing this fight through to the end. We will continue to use this momentum to fight for student free speech in Alabama.”
UAH did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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