QUARTERLY

Inside

FIRE won a powerful victoryat the University of Miami(UM), where a studentgroup, Advocates for

Conservative Thought (ACT),was repeatedly deniedapproval by administrators.The administration told ACTthat the group’s mission,“the exposition and promotion of conservativeprinciples and ideas,”overlaps with two othercampus groups: theCollege Republicansand an explicitly

nonpartisan discussion group. FIRE wrote to UMPresident Donna E.

Shalala, pointing out thatUM recognizes other

student groups who havesimilar missions. On May 2,

when FIRE’s media campaign brought the mat-

ter more directly before her,President Shalala immediately

repudiated the actions of heradministrators and ordered a

new review of ACT’s application.On May 6, ACT, after five

attempts, was finally approved.

Newsletter of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

Summer 2003

FIRE Declares War on Speech Codes

The Launch of FIRE’s Guides

In the Mail

FIRE Internships

FIRE’s Legal Network

From the Boardof Advisors

Foundation for IndividualRights in Education, Inc. 210 West Washington SquareSuite 303 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Tel: 215-717-3473Fax: 215-717-3440

Visit us online:www.thefire.orgwww.thefireguides.org

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FIRE Victories continued on page 4

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Victory: University of Miami students (from left) Sara Canale, Colleen Donovan, Andrea Kiser, and Nathalia Gillot

Victory for Free Speech and LegalEquality at the University of Miami

2

We do not choose our historical context, but once there, we face its moral choices. We havedecided to aid the friends of liberty and the victims of abusive power on our nation’s campuses. We have stood together at the side of thousands of students—and faculty—who,without FIRE, were helpless before the winds of insufferable coercion.

In these pages we share our victories with you. Knowing that our campuses need systemic change, we alsohave undertaken vital initiatives: FIRE’s Guides to Student Rights on Campus Program, which already hasdistributed tens of thousands of guides to student rights; FIRE’s Free Speech on Campus Program, sheddinglight on institutions that limit freedom of speech, and litigating, with our Legal Network, against the scandalof unconstitutional speech codes at public colleges and universities.

Ironically, at the very time that we have set the standard for combating politically correct tyranny on our campuses, we face a crisis caused precisely by our unfailing commitment to the most fundamental American values.

With each success, both our efficacy and the demand for our work increase. The two of us serve pro bono, receiving no remuneration whatsoever. All contributions go directly to FIRE’s work and programs. This is a crucial moment in FIRE’s and in the nation’s history. Let us be your agents. Together, we can reclaim our campuses for the deepest values of American freedom. Your continued and enhanced support is crucial to FIRE’s efforts. We ask that you consider using the enclosed envelope to send a contribution to sustainFIRE’s work.

With gratitude,

Alan Charles Kors

From FIRE’s Directors

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Expenses in 2002 Increase of Donors from 1999 to 2003

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Administrative($91,731.00)

Development($33,865.00)

Programs83%

($608,856.00)

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The FIRE Quarterly

Alan Charles Kors

Harvey A. Silverglate

Harvey A. Silverglate

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SHIPPENSBURG, PA—On April 22, FIRE Legal Networkattorneys David A. French andWilliam Adair Bonner filed a

lawsuit against speech codes atShippensburg University, a public institution in central Pennsylvania. Thesuit is a crucial part of FIRE’s FreeSpeech on Campus Program, which aimsto end the nightmare of speechcodes, the principal vehicle ofwidespread campus censorship.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the MiddleDistrict of Pennsylvania. It assertsthat the plaintiffs—undergraduatestudents at the university—riskpunishment up to expulsion forengaging in constitutionally protected expression. The suit is a“facial challenge” because it asserts thatthe policies threaten so much protectedspeech that their very existence is a violation of the First Amendment.

Shippensburg University’s Code ofConduct states that the universitydefends free speech unless it is “inflammatory, demeaning, or harmfultowards others.” The university requires

that “the expression of one’sbeliefs” should not “provoke” or“demean”—effectively outlawingmost forms of passionate expres-sion, moral outrage, robust discussion, dissent, and protest.Kors noted, “The expressionmost in need of protection, ofcourse, is precisely ‘provocative’

dissent from widely held views, even ifthose provoked see that as ‘demeaning.’Some individuals see criticism itself as ‘demeaning.’”

“We are going to bring them alldown. We are hereby declaring war on speech codes at public universities.”

–Thor L. Halvorssen

“Speech codes are a moral, educational, and legal scandal in American higher education. A nation that does not educate in liberty will not long preserveit and will not even know when it is lost.”

–Alan Charles Kors

For more on FIRE’s efforts atShippensburg University, please visitwww.thefire.org.

“If you’re a college professor or student who has fallen afoul of yourcampus speech code, you look tothe Foundation for IndividualRights in Education.”

–The Wall Street Journal

Summer 2003

FIRE Declares War on Speech CodesLawsuit Opens Systematic Assault on Censorship at Public Universities

Victory forFundamentalFairness at Harvard

CAMBRIDGE, MA—This year, HarvardUniversity added a minimal preliminaryreview process to its student disciplinaryprocedures, requiring that a complainantpresent some evidence that a discipli-nary charge can be corroborated. InJune 2002, an inquisitorial Boston attorney filed a legal complaint againstHarvard, challenging the change which,it was alleged, was a violation of Title IX—a federal law on sex discrimina-tion—because more women than menfiled sexual assault complaints.

On April 1, the Office for Civil Rights(OCR) of the U.S. Department ofEducation dismissed the complaintagainst Harvard. In its ruling, the OCRrecognized that Harvard’s policy merelyallows for the dismissal of frivolous orbaseless complaints, regardless of whobrings them. The OCR held thatHarvard’s new procedures are notunlawful, observing that the law “doesnot prohibit the use of due process.”

At all stages, FIRE advised various criticsof the old policy on what changes wereneeded, and debated critics of the revision. FIRE vigorously supportsHarvard’s new procedures.

Victory for FreeSpeech and FreeAssociation atVirginia PolytechnicInstitute

BLACKSBURG, VA—In March, the Boardof Visitors of Virginia PolytechnicInstitute and State University ( VirginiaTech) passed a resolution that threatened freedom of speech andassembly at that public institution. TheBoard banned specific viewpoints andrequired prior approval for all meetingson campus. The statement declaredthat no individuals or organizationscould meet on university property “if itcan be determined that such persons ororganizations advocate or have partici-pated in illegal acts of domestic violenceand/or terrorism.” The resolution alsorequired all individuals or groups plan-ning to hold a meeting to seek “approvalfrom the President of the university atleast 30 days in advance.” It also gavethe president of Virginia Tech “final decision-making power to determinewho can meet on university property.”

FIRE urged Virginia Tech to abandon theresolution, and called on Virginia’s attorney general to declare it unconsti-tutional. “The remarkably overbroad

and vague language of this resolutionexpands its reach far beyond campusguest speakers, to anyone, anywhere oncampus,” wrote FIRE’s director of legaland public advocacy, Greg Lukianoff.The letter went on to remind the Boardand the attorney general of the words ofThomas Jefferson: “Error of opinion maybe tolerated where reason is left free tocombat it.”

Days later, State Solicitor William H.Hurd of the Office of the AttorneyGeneral advised Virginia Tech that “thenew regulation violates fundamentalrights to assembly and speech as protected by the First Amendment.” The letter concluded: “A university—ofall places—should be willing, in thewords of Thomas Jefferson, ‘to tolerateany error so long as reason is left free tocombat it.’ For universities to prohibitthe use of their facilities for constitution-ally protected speech—based on the perceived illegitimacy or offensivenessof the viewpoint expressed—is contrary to the role of a university as a marketplace of ideas and violates theconstitutional prohibition against viewpoint discrimination.”

Because Virginia Tech made its policycontingent on the ruling of the state attorney general, it is no longerapplicable at that institution.

“FIRE is about the respect for freedom

of speech and conscience that used to

unite all Americans, whatever their

political persuasion.”–National Review Online

–The Washington PostThe FIRE Quarterly4

“There are two big differences between today and the period…when the [political] correctness wars raged. The first and most obvious is 9/11…The second…is that therenow exists an organization dedicated to rooting out and exposing assaults upon ‘freespeech, individual liberty, religious freedom, the rights of conscience, legal equality, due process and academic freedom on our nation’s campuses.’ Its name is FIRE.”

FIRE Victories continued from page 1

FIRE Victories

5Summer 2003

Victory for Freedomof Conscience at Citrus College

GLENDORA, CA—FIRE won a crucialcase at California’s Citrus College,where—in a required speech courseat this public institution—ProfessorRosalyn Kahn effectively compelledundergraduate students to writeanti-war letters to President GeorgeW. Bush, denying credit for theassignment to students who supported the war or who refusedto send the letters. Kahn similarlyrequired her students to write letters with a specific politicalviewpoint to California StateSenator Jack Scott.

On March 4, FIRE wrote to Citrus College President

Louis Zellers. After constructiveconversations with FIRE, Zellersagreed to resolve the matter byappropriately sanctioning the pro-fessor (FIRE reminded him of herright to due process), apologizing tothe students, reassuring them that

their gradeswould not beaffected by theseassignments, and ensuring that this situation wouldnot occur again atCitrus College.Additionally,President Zellerspromised to send

letters to both President George W.Bush and State Senator Jack Scott apologizing for this violation of freedomof speech and formally withdrawing thesham letters.

Victory for ReligiousLiberty at theUniversity of NorthCarolina

CHAPEL HILL, NC—FIRE recently drewwidespread public attention to the revocation of a Christian student group’sconstitutional and moral rights at theUniversity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill(UNC). The next day, UNC folded its hand.

A UNC administrator had threatened theInterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF)with a loss of all privileges and fundingbecause it required its leaders to adhereto the IVCF’s Christian doctrine. Withinone day of FIRE’s public intervention on behalf of the embattled studentgroup, Chancellor James Moeser ordered“that IVCF be allowed to continue tooperate as an official recognized student organization”—speaking of his great appreciation of what thegroup adds to campus, and restoring,for now, the rights of religious liberty,free expression, and free associationto IVCF at this public institution.

“Campus ‘free-speechzones’ are being eliminated, largelyunder pressure fromthe Philadelphia-based Foundation forIndividual Rights in Education (FIRE).”

–US News & World Report

Halvorssen on The O’Reilly Factor

CITRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Edward C. Ortell, President Duarte/Arcadia/Azusa/Monrovia Representative

Ms. Susan M. Keith, Vice PresidentClaremont/Pomona Representative Dr. Gary L. Woods, Clerk/Secretary

Azusa/Covina/Glendora/Irwindale Representative Mr. Michael Bevilacqua, Member Glendora/San Dimas Representative

Mrs. Joanne Montgomery, Member

From the Desk of

Monrovia/Bradbury/Duarte Representative

Dr. Louis E. Zellers

Mrs. Paulette Rice, Student Representative

Superintendent/President

Dr. Louis E. Zellers, Superintendent/President

1000 W. Foothill Boulevard

Glendora, CA 91741-1899

TEL: 626.963.0323

March 7, 2003

Mr. Thor L. Halvorssen Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

210 West Washington Square, Suite 303 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Dear Mr. Halvorssen:

Thank you for your March 4, 2003 letter concerning the conduct of Professor Kahn, instructor of

Speech 106 at Citrus College. Mr. Samuel Lee, Associate Dean for Language Arts and Foreign

Languages, visited Professor Kahn’s class yesterday, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. He met

directly with the students and asked them about the allegations cited in your letter. Based on the

outcome of that meeting, we believe the instructor did abuse her authority in two specific ways:

1. Professor Kahn gave students an extra credit assignment to write a letter to President

George W. Bush protesting the possible war with Iraq. Students were clear in their

understanding that they would only receive credit if they wrote “protest” letters. Students were

told that those who wrote letters expressing alternate views (including support for the war)

would not receive credit. At Citrus College we strongly believe that all students should have

freedom of expression and equal opportunity to benefit, regardless of their political beliefs. We

believe that this assignment denied students this opportunity and, further, could have

encouraged some to violate their conscience in order to benefit. We are deeply saddened that

this took place. We are taking the following action to bring justice to bear and mitigate the

results of this abuse:

� I am sending a letter of apology to President George W. Bush, explaining the illegitimate

nature of the assignment and requesting that all letters associated with the assignment be

retracted. � The extra credit for that assignment will be expunged.

� An alternative assignment will allow students to receive extra credit for drafting a letter to

George W. Bush concerning the possible war with Iraq. Students will be encouraged to express

their beliefs, and will receive credit regardless of those beliefs. Students will not be asked to

send their letters in order to receive credit. 2. Professor Kahn gave students an extra credit assignment to write a letter to their local state

representative, expressing an explicit political viewpoint. Because nearly all students were in the

1000 W. Foothill Boulevard

Glendora, CA 91741-1899

TEL: 626.963.0323

same district, the letters were written to California State Senator Jack Scott. Again, all students

understood that they would only receive extra credit if they wrote letters expressing a specific

political agenda. Our reaction to this injustice is the same as expressed in the first instance: it

ought not to have happened. We are taking the following action to bring justice to bear and

mitigate the results of this abuse:

� I am sending a letter of apology to Senator Jack Scott, explaining the illegitimate nature

of the assignment and requesting that all letters associated with the assignment be retracted.

� The extra credit for that assignment will be expunged.

� An alternative assignment will allow students to receive extra credit for drafting a letter to

their local state representative concerning the state’s current budget situation. Students will be

encouraged to express their beliefs, and will receive credit regardless of those beliefs. Students

will not be asked to send their letters in order to receive credit.

Further actions Citrus College will take in response to these abuses will include:

� Students in Professor Kahn’s class will be provided with a current list of their assignment

grades for Speech 106. If any student has a dispute concerning a grade, Mr. Lee will work with

the instructor and student to resolve the dispute before final grades are due.

� While respecting the due process rights of the instructor, Citrus College will sanction

Professor Kahn in an appropriate manner.

At the conclusion of the meeting with the Speech 106 students on March 6, 2003, Mr. Lee

apologized on behalf of Citrus College for this violation of their free speech rights. He reiterated

to students that Citrus College has been, and will continue to be, a staunch defender of freedom

of speech and freedom of conscience.

I would like to thank the courageous students who brought this to the attention of Mr. Lee. I

would like to thank Mr. Lee for following up on these concerns in a very timely and effective

manner (the first he learned of these complaints was Thursday, February 27, 2003). As soon as

the next day, he was working with all parties concerned to resolve the issue. I would also like to

thank the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for working so vigorously to

safeguard our liberties by supporting our efforts with additional facts and advising the college on

appropriate solutions.

Sincerely,

Louis E. Zellers

Superintendent/President

LEZ/SL:cl

c: Congressman David Dreier

Senator Bob Margett

Halvorssen on MSNBC Reports

Halvorssen on Fox and Friends

The first three titles in the series have already beenissued; they are accessible at www.thefireguides.org.Since the site’s launch in mid-March, more than 20,000copies of the Guides have been downloaded from thewebsite. In addition to downloading the Guides, students may order them free of charge. The Guidesare available to the public on Amazon.com.

WASHINGTON, DC—FIRE released itsGuides to Student Rights on Campus–five books that will arm students in thedefense and exercise of their rights.

Unveiled in a national press conference in Washington,DC in March, the Guides directly address the curtailment of students’ rights on campuses today:

FIRE’s Guide to Religious Liberty onCampus; FIRE’s Guide to StudentFees, Funding, and Legal Equalityon Campus; FIRE’s Guide to DueProcess and Fair Procedure onCampus; FIRE’s Guide to FreeSpeech on Campus; and lastly,FIRE’s Guide to First-YearOrientation and Thought Reformon Campus.

An extraordinary group of legalscholars serves as Board of Editorsto the series. FIRE invited significant legal thinkers from acrossthe political and ideological spectrum, all of whom agreed toserve. The Board of Editorsincludes distinguished individualslike Edwin Meese, III, RonaldReagan Chair in Public Policy,Heritage Foundation, and NadineStrossen, president of the AmericanCivil Liberties Union.

6 The FIRE Quarterly

FIRE Launches Guides to StudentRights on Campus

Thor L. Halvorssen introduces the authors.

From left, Edwin Meese, III and Nadine Strossen

7Summer 2003

“FIRE’s important Guides to variousaspects of academic freedom are not only enlightening but alsoempowering. They should inspire allmembers of campus communities todefend and exercise their rights...”

Nadine Strossen, President, American Civil Liberties Union;Professor of Law, New York Law School

“FIRE’s Guides will change the balance of power.Students are now armed with accurate information and good counsel, and campus administrators are now on notice of their responsibilities.”

Edwin Meese, III, Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy, Heritage Foundation; 75th Attorney General of the United States

From left, Vivian Berger, Edwin Meese, III, Harvey A. Silverglate.

From left, Thor L. Halvorssen and Alan Charles Kors

Vivian Berger: Nash Professor ofLaw Emerita, Columbia Law School

T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr.: President,Intercollegiate Studies Institute

Alan M. Dershowitz: FelixFrankfurter Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

Paul K. McMasters: FirstAmendment Ombudsman, The Freedom Forum

Edwin Meese, III: Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy, HeritageFoundation; 75th Attorney General of the United States

Roger Pilon: Vice-President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute

Jamin Raskin: Professor ofConstitutional Law, American University

Nadine Strossen: President,American Civil Liberties Union;Professor of Law, New York Law School

Board of Editors

Guides Authors

David French: Attorney, Greenebaum,Doll, & McDonald PLLC

Josh Gewolb: FIRE Program Officer

Jordan Lorence: Senior Counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund

Greg Lukianoff: FIRE Director ofLegal and Public Advocacy

Harvey A. Silverglate: Codirector and cofounder of FIRE; Partner,Silverglate & Good

In the Mail

This year, FIRE will host a group of college and university students as part of its fourth annual summer InternshipProgram. This program at once teachesinterns the importance of individualrights, allows them to contribute toFIRE’s active defense of liberty, andgives them the opportunity to apply this knowledge when they return to their campuses.

After an intensive application process,this year’s interns were selected for both their academic distinction andtheir commitment to defending the liberties that FIRE works so diligently toprotect. The interns come from the Ave Maria School of Law, BucknellUniversity, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, VillanovaUniversity School of Law,

University of Virginia, WesleyanUniversity, Willamette University, andYale University.

FIRE interns will be conducting crucialresearch for FIRE’s Free Speech onCampus Program. Through their work

assignments, a variety of reading selec-tions, and weekly seminars with FIRE’sdirectors and staff, interns acquire theknowledge and enthusiasm that will, we trust, be at the center of their own advocacy of individual rights on theircampuses and in American society.

FIRE Internships

The FIRE Quarterly8

Back Row: Christina Rockwell, Marymount College; Roberto Arguedas, University of Pennsylvania; Anthony Dick, University of Virginia; Craig Rolle, The College of Wooster

Front Row: Alison Orendach, University of Pennsylvania; Rachel Rosenblum, University of Delaware; Stevonne Ratliff, UCLA; Denise Chaykun, Bucknell University; Pam Temolgie, Franklin & Marshall College;Alison Peet, Williams College

2002

Sum

mer

Inte

rns

9Summer 2003

Victory for Freedomof the Press atGovernors StateUniversity

On April 10, the U.S. Court of Appealsfor the Seventh Circuit upheld freedomof the press at Governors StateUniversity (GSU), in University Park,Illinois. FIRE had joined an amicus briefsubmitted by the Student Press LawCenter urging the court to vindicate thebasic First Amendment rights of college students. Judge Terence T.Evans, who wrote the decision, calledthis brief “superb.”

The appellate court ruled that public colleges and universities cannot demand the power of pre-publication review over their student publications. The opinion rejected an attempt byGovernors State University andthe state of Illinois to imposethe standard used to justifycensorship of high school student publications on college student media.

This is a crucial victory thatundoes an attempt toimpose a truly draconian

form of censorship on college studentsand should serve as a warning to anyuniversity that seeks to treat their students as children.

Victory for Freedomof Conscience:Rutgers UniversityLifts Ban on ChristianStudent Group

FIRE helped to secure an important victory for religious liberty and freedomof conscience at Rutgers University, theflagship public university of New Jersey.Rutgers has lifted its ban on theInterVarsity Multi-Ethnic ChristianFellowship, which was banned fromcampus in September 2002 because ofits rule that “leaders must seek toadhere to biblical standards and belief inall areas of their lives.” This, Rutgershad claimed, constituted discrimination.

In December 2002, FIRE wrote toRutgers, urging the administration toreinstate the Fellowship. FIRE’s LegalNetwork attorney David A. French filed alawsuit against Rutgers for violating theFellowship’s First Amendment rights.On April 1, Rutgers and the Fellowshipreleased a joint statement announcingthat they “have amicably resolved anyand all issues regarding the status andgovernance of the Fellowship.” The lawsuit has been withdrawn; Rutgers has now formally approved the organization’s constitution and assuresthe Fellowship that its voting memberscan consider both their own religiousbeliefs and those of candidates whenselecting and voting for their leaders.

“This is an important event for everyonewho values genuine pluralism and diversity,” said FIRE’s President Alan Charles Kors.

FIRE has intervened successfully in defense of

liberty-related issues on behalf of hundreds of students and faculty at

colleges and universities across America. While many of the cases we

accept can be resolved quickly and amicably by our office staff, other

cases require the intervention of an attorney. Because FIRE does not

undertake direct litigation, these cases must be referred to FIRE’s

Legal Network, which consists of outside attorneys, law firms, and

legal foundations that share our principles, values, and goals.

FIRE’s Legal Network

10

FIRE’s success is made possible by the sustained generosity of individuals who contribute to ourwork in defense of liberty on college and university campuses. The graphs on page 2 show theconsistent growth of FIRE’s contributors and FIRE’s financial stability. To acknowledge the crucial support that all of FIRE’s friends provide, we are pleased to announce FIRE’s Tiered

Giving Program. The commitment levels and associated benefits are detailed below.

Please consider taking action now with a tax-deductible gift to FIRE to support the freedom of collegestudents and professors nationwide. Your contribution at one of the indicated levels, or at any level,enables FIRE to continue its aggressive defense of liberty through the work and programs detailedthroughout The FIRE Quarterly and at www.thefire.org.

If you have any questions concerning donations, including details on gifts of appreciated securities,planned gifts, and our monthly giving program, please contact Robert Pfaltzgraff at rob@thefire.orgor 215-717-3473.

Thank you for your support.

DEAN OF FREEDOM $10,000+

•All benefits listed above, plus:

•Invitations to all regional lectures and conferences given by FIRE’s Directors and Staff

•Invitation to President’s Dinner at FIRE’s Annual Conference

CHANCELLOR OF FREEDOM $15,000+

•All benefits listed above, plus:

•Video and audio tapes of FIRE’s radio and television appearances

•Policy papers by FIRE’s Directors

TRUSTEE OF FREEDOM $25,000+

•All benefits listed above, plus:

•Private meetings and discussions with FIRE’s Directors

•Quarterly selections from FIRE’s Essential Books on Freedom, chosen by FIRE’s Directors

BACHELOR OF FREEDOM $1,000+

•The FIRE Quarterly, updates, and releases

•Hardcover first edition of The Shadow University,inscribed to the the person of your choice, signed by the authors

•Invitation to FIRE’s Annual Conference

MASTER OF FREEDOM $2,500+

•All benefits listed above, plus:

•Briefing letters from FIRE’s Directors

•Annual report of FIRE’s media impact

DOCTOR OF FREEDOM $5,000+

•All benefits listed above, plus:

•Limited edition complete boxed set of FIRE’sGuides to Student Rights on Campus

•Complimentary Invitation to FIRE’s AnnualConference and private reception

•Published articles by FIRE’s Directors and Staff

Invest in Freedom

The FIRE Quarterly

11Summer 2003Summer 2003

About the Publication

Volume 1, Issue 1

The FIRE Quarterly is published four timesper year by the Foundation for IndividualRights in Education.

The mission of FIRE is to defend and sustainindividual rights at America’s increasinglyrepressive and partisan colleges and universities. These rights include freedom ofspeech, legal equality, due process, religiousliberty, and sanctity of conscience—theessential qualities of individual liberty anddignity. FIRE’s core mission is to protect the unprotected and to educate the public and communities of concerned Americans aboutthe threats to these rights on our campusesand about the means to preserve them.

FIRE is a charitable and educational, tax-exempt foundation within the meaning ofSection 501 (c) (3) of the Internal RevenueCode. Contributions to FIRE are deductible to the fullest extent provided by tax laws.

Managing Editor: Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, IIIrob@thefire.orgLayout & Design: Yoonsun Chung

How to reach us:

FIRE210 West Washington Square, Suite 303Philadelphia, PA 19106 Phone.....................................Fax.........................................

General email: fire@thefire.org

On the web:www.thefire.orgwww.thefireguides.org

From the Board of Advisors

Irecently engaged in a feisty TV debate that probably could not happen on some college campuses nowadays. I opposed a white newspaper executive on the explosive topic of reparations for the descendants of

African-American slaves; he favored them, and I, a black civilrights advocate, opposed them.

That debate was an exercise in free speech,unrestrained by notions of political correct-ness or concerns about “exploitative” or“insensitive” viewpoints that now inhibit thefree exchange of ideas about race in highereducation circles. On the campus, someonein the audience might have shouted at me,“Foul!” Indeed, if I were white, opposed sovociferously to racial reparations to thepoint of invoking mockery and calling suchclaims on the public purse a form of beg-ging—as I did in my TV debate—some student or faculty tribunal might havehauled me before them and accused me ofexploitative, insensitive, incorrect viewsabout race: My free speech rights on thesubject might have been chilled, if not outright censored.

The demands for free speech are increasing exponentially.Students and faculty of all colors on many campuses aredemanding an end to parochialism and censorship. Indeed,as every minority must know intuitively, race relations in particular can’t be debated or improved upon until there iscandor, truly free speech and inquiry.

We must create once again a ferment for individual freedom,in the very places where new leaders are educated. FIRE is sovital and relevant in this struggle to help today’s individualistsresist and defeat the freedom-smothering censors and kangaroo courts that exist on too many campuses. FIRE isproviding the intellectual leadership, backed up by the club of litigation, to win victories for individual freedom on ourcampuses. In a uniquely American way, we’re fired up andwon’t take any more incursions on our basic American freedoms and civil liberties.

By Michael Meyers

Michael Meyers is president and executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition (NYCRC), which he cofounded in 1986; a member of FIRE’s Advisory Board; a prominent civil libertarian and vice president of thenational ACLU; and a syndicated columnist.

215-717-3473215-717-3440

Michael Meyers

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education210 West Washington Square, Suite 303Philadelphia, PA 19106-9906

The Last Word

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