State universities say they already comply
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday requiring U.S. colleges to commit to protecting speech rights on campus or lose federal research funding, claiming many schools “have become increasingly hostile to free speech and to the First Amendment.”
But Colorado higher-education institutions — including the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado and Metropolitan State University of Denver — say they already are dedicated to the free expression of ideas and opinions on their campuses and are in line with the executive action.
“Free speech has long been a focus at the University of Colorado, and we feel like we’re not only ahead of the game but leaders, nationally, with this issue,” said Ken McConnellogue, spokesman for the CU system, which includes the Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Anschutz campuses.
Trump’s order follows a growing chorus of complaints
from conservatives who say their voices have been stifled on campuses across the U.S., including on CU’s Boulder campus. It would apply to certain education grants but not to federal financial aid for students, and it mandates that colleges receiving research grants from federal agencies agree to uphold free speech policies.
“Even as universities have received billions and billions of dollars from taxpayers, many have become increasingly hostile to free speech and to the First Amendment,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony. “These universities have tried to restrict free thought, impose total conformity and shut down the voices of great young Americans.”
Separate from the free speech requirement, the order also calls for measures intended to promote transparency in the student loan industry and in how well colleges prepare students.
Trump proposed the order during a March speech to conservative activists, holding up an activist who was punched in the face during recruitment for conservative student group Turning Point USA at the University of California as an example of why it was needed. Neither the activist nor the man arrested for the attack were affiliated with the university.
The federal Office of Management and Budget would be tasked with ensuring colleges that earn research grants “promote free speech,” including through compliance with all applicable federal laws, regulations and policies, although it was unclear how the government would enforce the order or what could trigger a loss of funding.
CU’s policy updates
In September, after months of discussion on the subject, the CU Board of Regents unanimously approved policy changes redefining academic freedom and freedom of expression. Among the new policies: Faculty members have the freedom to teach the truth as they understand it, subject only to the controls of the methods of establishing knowledge in their field.
During the board’s meeting in September, Regent Sue Sharkey, R-Castle Rock, and the board chair, asked whether the concept of truth could be subject to a faculty member’s biases in the face of another’s “separate understanding of a different truth.”
Early drafts of CU’s policy changes — spearheaded by Regents Heidi Ganahl, Republican at large, and John Carson, R-Highlands Ranch — said speech related to political, academic, artistic and social concerns at the university should not be censored “even when others construe that speech as wrong or insensitive.”
Ganahl previously told the Daily Camera that her motivation for pushing for free speech policies was in response to conversations she had with conservative or libertarian students who didn’t feel comfortable expressing their views on the left-learning Boulder campus.
The political nature of the national debate surrounding freedom of speech at universities has played out among the CU regents and administration, who agreed that campuses should promote the free exchange of ideas and opinions but disagreed as to whether anything was hindering free speech in the first place.
McConnellogue said CU’s policy changes were important because they clearly articulated commitment to freedom of speech where there once was potential ambiguity.
“There was always the notion that universities are marketplaces of ideas, but I don’t think the way we talk about it has been as clear as it has been in the past decade,” McConnellogue said.
Other schools say they’re in line
Nate Haas, spokesman for the Greeley-based University of Northern Colorado, said UNC recognizes and supports freedom of speech on its campus.
“It is fundamental to the learning experience and helps foster an academic setting where the vigorous exchange of ideas flourishes,” Haas said.
David Fine, general counsel, said Metropolitan State University has “a robust free speech policy in place” and already complies with the new executive order.
“MSU Denver is proud of our culture of academic rigor, courage, mutual respect and inclusive excellence,” Fine said. “This culture is founded on two key related principles: freedom of expression and academic freedom. We expect our students, faculty and staff to engage in this mission in a spirit of mutual respect.”
Dell Rae Ciaravola, a spokeswoman for Colorado State University, said CSU is still reviewing the order.
“It essentially requires us to continue to comply with the First Amendment, a responsibility Colorado State University has always taken seriously because it’s constitutional law and fundamental to a public university,” Ciaravola said.