U. Miami Claims to Support Free Speech But Requires Advance Notice and Clearance

U. Miami Claims to Support Free Speech But Requires Advance Notice and Clearance

You can have all the free speech you want, just fill out these forms and wait two business days.

The Washington Examiner reports:

Code Red: Speech only approved after ‘assessment’ at University of Miami

The University of Miami, a private university in Coral Gables, Fla., holds a red speech code rating, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s campus free speech rating system.

Colleges and universities that have at least one policy that “both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech” are assigned a red light rating, according to FIRE.

While the University of Miami’s website states that it “will assure the right of students and approved student organizations to demonstrate and publicly proclaim any view, however unpopular,” the university also requests students plan their speech ahead of time. They request that “recognized university organizations and full or part-time students who wish to schedule a demonstration, rally, or equivalent activity, may request the space through the Dean of Students Office. Any such request must be made no less than two business days in advance of the activity.”

Furthermore, they also state, “Demonstrations may be held at locations on campus with the approval of the Dean of Students Office on a first-come, first-served basis after an assessment that such demonstrations will not otherwise interfere with scheduled University use or fail to comply with the guidelines applicable to all demonstrations.”

While private schools are not bound by the First Amendment in the same way that public universities are, most have traditionally viewed themselves as bastions of free thought and expression.

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