PEN America Defends as Protected Speech a City University of New York Law Student’s Commencement Criticism of Israel and New York Police
In response, Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, released the following statement: “Lawmakers have absolutely no right to threaten University funding based on speech… More
Shut Down of Environmental Blog at U of Iowa After Lawmakers Reportedly Complained About It is “Profoundly Alarming,” Says PEN America
PEN America’s senior manager of free expression and education Kristen Shahverdian said: “It is nothing short of a tragedy that Jones’ blog has been shut down for political reasons.… More
Student Decision to Prevent Speaker from On-Campus Talk in Spokane is Disappointing, Especially in Light of Historic Levels of Education Censorship, Says PEN America
Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, released the following statement: “It is disappointing to see a student group fearful of inviting a speaker based… More
Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses is Essential to Preserving Academic Freedom, Says PEN America CEO
“Students often lack awareness of the First Amendment or the precepts of academic freedom, sometimes believing that the best answer to noxious ideas is to drown them out, or… More
PEN America: ‘This escalating battle for control over free expression in education should worry us all’
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel testified that the rise in educational gag orders and "escalating battle for control over free expression in education should worry us all." More
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel Testimony Before Congress on Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses
House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Hearing on “Diversity of Thought: Protecting Free Speech on College Campuses" * Statement of Suzanne Nossel, Chief… More
Cancellation of Drag Benefit Show on Texas Campus Goes Against Norms of Free Expression
“This cancellation is an abhorrent trampling of students’ free expression rights," said Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America. “It goes against university policy… More
American Council on Education and PEN America Release Resource Guide to Help Higher Education Leaders Defend Academic Freedom
Over the past several years, higher education leaders and free speech advocates have grown increasingly alarmed at the rise of what PEN America calls educational gag orders: legislative restrictions… More
The Absurd Year in Educational Censorship, From Gay Penguins to the Gettysburg Address
It has been an absurd year for educational censorship. More
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