UNC Chapel Hill Student Govt. Uses Executive Order to Cut Off Funding to Pro-Life Causes and Individuals
“UNC Chapel Hill’s student government cannot declare itself the arbiter of which opinions are acceptable”
The left is always quick to accuse conservatives of being authoritarians and fascists. What do they call this?
From the FIRE blog:
Repressive executive order from UNC Chapel Hill student government cuts off funding for pro-life individuals, causes
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student government president issued an order this month cutting off executive branch funding “to any individual, business, or organization” that advocates for pro-life causes.
Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called on the UNC Chapel Hill student government to rescind the order and commit to distributing funds in a viewpoint-neutral manner.
“This is blatant viewpoint discrimination and a clear violation of fundamental First Amendment rights,” said FIRE attorney Zach Greenberg, who wrote today’s letter to the university. “A student government should represent the entire student body, not abuse its power by seeking to censor classmates with opposing views.”
On July 6, the UNC Chapel Hill Student Government executive branch issued an order prohibiting contracts or funding to “any individual, business, or organization which actively advocates to further limit by law access to reproductive healthcare.” It is unclear exactly what types of funding requests are subject to the executive branch’s unconstitutional and discriminatory prohibition. The student senate also handles funding requests and, to date, has not taken the same viewpoint discriminatory stance.
UNC Chapel Hill’s chapter of Students for Life, one of the country’s largest pro-life advocacy organizations, responded with a statement expressing dismay and urging Student Body President Taliajah Vann to rescind the order and live up to her campaign promise that she would “help every member of the student body.”
As a public institution, UNC Chapel Hill is bound by the First Amendment, which precludes the school from discriminating against student groups based on viewpoint. The student government is therefore constitutionally required to distribute funds in a viewpoint-neutral manner. Additionally, UNC Chapel Hill makes strong commitments to free speech, earning FIRE’s highest, “green light” rating. FIRE’s letter to Vann asks her administration to immediately rescind the unconstitutional order and commit to viewpoint neutrality.
“UNC Chapel Hill’s student government cannot declare itself the arbiter of which opinions are acceptable,” said Greenberg. “We call on these student leaders to uphold their constituents’ free speech rights by doling out funds in a viewpoint-neutral manner.”
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Comments
Let the lawsuits begin!!
Sue them into submission!
And discipline the student who signed the order— maybe expulsion for violating the school’s code of conduct? How is this any more acceptable than disrupting a class or defacing a building?
It’s an establishment clause violation. Progressivism is a religion and they are requiring you to not speak against their doctrine.
A religion that wants to force you to pretend it isn’t.
A fine example of what happens when children are given power.
Board of The Flies.
I have a degree from UNC. I stopped donating years ago (maybe 20?) and have never had cause to regret that decision.