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Brrr! I can feel the chilling effect from here.https://www.thefire.org/fires-naughty-list-89-colleges-earn-our-lowest-rating-for-free-speech/ …

Tufts University's requirement for students to obtain a permit before engaging in core protected speech like political leafleting flies in the face of its commitments to free expression. So we're trying to change it. https://go.thefire.org/tufts-ban-on-political-leafleting-emblematic-of-private-universities-failings-nationwide/ … @TuftsUniversity

Even after enrollment, admins are still watching. Just ask grad student Kim Diei. She's suing her university for trying to expel her over a tweet about Cardi B and other constitutionally protected social media posts. https://www.thefire.org/lawsuit-the-university-of-tennessee-tried-to-expel-a-grad-student-for-a-tweet-about-cardi-b-and-other-social-media-posts-now-shes-fighting-back/ … @iamcardib

Colleges are increasingly viewing applicants' social media profiles in the admissions process, writes @FrankLoMonte. But top colleges may be “flying blind” without rules on this practice that could have major First Amendment considerations.https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/views/2021/12/13/admissions-officials-need-pay-attention-first-amendment-opinion …

The P.C. culture of the '80s and '90s didn't decline and fall. It just went underground. Now it's back. Read @glukianoff's new feature in @reason:https://reason.com/2021/12/13/the-second-great-age-of-political-correctness/ …

NEW: A recording reveals that members of the Stanford student senate engaged in viewpoint discrimination to deny funding for a Mike Pence appearance. The senate must immediately reverse its decision and facilitate the appearance. https://go.thefire.org/new-audio-reveals-stanford-student-senate-engaged-in-viewpoint-discrimination-to-deny-funding/ … @Stanford @Stanford_GOP

At UC Santa Cruz, faculty applicants are required to submit a statement on how they've contributed to diversity initiatives. Political litmus tests—on any issue—are unconstitutional at public institutions. UCSC must eliminate the policy now. https://go.thefire.org/fire-calls-on-uc-santa-cruz-to-drop-diversity-statement-mandate-for-faculty-applicants/ … @ucsc

Today @powellnyt covers a Texas legislator's "hazily defined list of troublesome books"—which sends a chill through civil liberties advocates. Quoting FIRE's Joe Cohn: “Do you want to shut down a curious student? Legislatures would be wise to be modest.”https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/10/us/texas-critical-race-theory-ban-books.html …

Politicians and school boards must stop purging books from library shelves. The Supreme Court took up this case almost 40 years ago. But the resulting *seven* opinions and failure to arrive at a simple majority helped pave the way for modern censors.https://go.thefire.org/to-protect-school-libraries-and-american-pluralism-check-pico-back-in/ …

North Carolina is a leader for free expression at public colleges. Now, @DavidsonCollege could extend that track record to private institutions. FIRE and @AcademicRenewal urge Davidson’s board to adopt the proposed statement of free expression.https://go.thefire.org/davidson-poised-to-become-first-private-college-in-nc-to-adopt-free-expression-statement/ …

FIRE's other open positions: Legislative Fellow Multimedia Producer Philanthropy Officer Research Assistant Research Associate Salesforce Administrator Social Media Manager Summer Internship Legal Clerkshiphttps://www.thefire.org/about-us/jobs-internships/ …

We're training a new generation of First Amendment litigators. Interested in working with FIRE's civil rights attorneys to safeguard free speech and democracy? Apply for the new Arthur D. Hellman Fellowship in First Amendment Litigation. Apply today!https://www.thefire.org/fire-announces-new-arthur-d-hellman-fellowship-in-first-amendment-litigation-for-law-students/ …