More Than Meets the DEI
Bills that purport to ban DEI initiatives on college campuses are currently in vogue in state legislatures. Their proponents describe them as straightforward “DEI bans.” More
From Classroom Censorship to Curricular Control
Not only are these new bills equally censorious compared to the older model, they are more brazen and have the potential to be much more destructive to the basic… 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
University of Idaho Guidance on Near-Total Abortion Ban is a Chilling Example of Linked Threats to Free Expression
“The University of Idaho’s guidance to its staff is a chilling example of the threats that new, expansive restrictions on abortion rights pose to freedom of expression, and a… More
New Op-Ed Series Focused on the Freedom to Learn to Launch in Washington Post’s ‘Made by History’ Section
“We’re excited to partner with the Washington Post’s Made by History to support high-quality, well-researched analysis by professional historians on the unprecedented threats to our education system,” said Jeremy… More
Failed Bill Brought by Arizona Democrats Would Have Restricted What Teachers Can Teach
"Had HB 2634 become law, Arizona teachers might have been unable to assign materials that depict historical or literary instances of discrimination to educate students about why discrimination is… More
5 Myths about Educational Gag Orders
The legislators behind these gag orders are not interested in a productive back-and-forth with educators; what they want is simply to dictate the terms of teachers’ surrender. More
Joint Statement from PEN America, AAC&U: Legislative Restrictions on Teaching and Learning Violate Academic Freedom and Threaten Higher Ed’s Autonomy
“Legislators who attack the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of students and faculty are waging war against open inquiry itself,” said Suzanne Nossel, chief executive officer of PEN America. More
Disciplinary Action Against Florida Student Jack Petocz for ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protests Called “Unconscionable”
"By going back on their word and imposing a red mark on Jack Petocz's disciplinary record, the Flagler Palm Coast High School administration appears bent on retaliating against him… More
For Educational Gag Orders, The Vagueness Is The Point
We find that instead of clarifying the laws, guidance documents have muddied the waters, further eroding academic freedom and students’ right to learn. More