College Students: Interested in Free Speech on Campus? Then Read Below

Save the Date: 2011 Campus Freedom Network Conference, July 14-16

FIRE is proud to announce that the 2011 Campus Freedom Network Conference will be held July 14-16 on the campus of Bryn Mawr College, just outside of Philadelphia. The CFN Conference brings together committed students from across the country to learn from eminent First Amendment scholars and meet fellow advocates for free speech on campus.

The conference will begin with dinner on Thursday evening, followed by a day and a half of lectures, panels, and break-out sessions. Attendees will hear from distinguished keynote speakers, a panel of students involved in previous FIRE cases, and FIRE staff about the philosophical and legal arguments for First Amendment rights on campus and how they can improve the culture of free speech at their schools.

The Thursday night keynote speaker will be Nick Gillespie, editor in chief of Reason.tv and Reason.com, which… features the staff blog Hit & Run, named by Washingtonian, Playboy, and others as one of the best political blogs.

Friday night's keynote speaker is Robert Corn-Revere, a partner at the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine in Washington, D.C., and a First Amendment expert with extensive experience in communications, media, and information technology law. Corn-Revere is the lead attorney for former Valdosta State University student Hayden Barnes in Barnes v. Zaccari, a federal civil rights case currently before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

We welcome all college students interested in defending free speech on campus to apply to attend the conference. The conference is FREE, and FIRE will also provide up to $300 to reimburse expenses for attendees to travel to Bryn Mawr. Space is limited, so you should register soon!

Apply today at thecfn.org/conference

Corn-Revere recently spoke about "The High Value of Low Speech" at a Reason event. Check out the video here:

Comments

[T]

I think Nick needs to swap that stock photo for a photo taken during the brief moustache era.

[TiggyToo]

Sorry, no such thing as free speech anymore.

http://www.privacy-online.us.tc

[?]

I went to FIRE's page and it allows you to look up speech codes by state. When I clicked on S. Carolina and Virginia I noticed conservative schools with stringent speech codes like Bob Jones, Liberty and Regent University did not show up, but other private institutions did. What gives? Does FIRE avoid criticizing private conservative institutions that restrict speech for some reason? Hopefully Mr. Gillespie can gently challenge them on this.

[?]

Actually in fairness, with further looking I found that FIRE addresses this issue, it seems if the private institution holds itself out as promoting free speech and then does not it is a target but if it explicitly disavows free speech then it is not.

http://thefire.org/article/7936.html

I get that, but I would still urge private institutions of all stripes to be persuaded to allow more, not less speech, perhaps under this part of the program " how they can improve the culture of free speech at their schools."

[cynical]

They could at least point out those schools that explicitly disavow speech, as an honest enemy is still an enemy.

[sarcasmic]

Will he be wearing The Jacket??

[SugarFree]

Even if you can't see it with your puny human eyes, The Jacket is always there. Always.

[Mister DNA]

If he's not wearing The Jacket, chances are The Jacket is on security detail, lurking in the rafters with a sniper rifle. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[Jim]

What if I'm a student who believes in complete censorship? Will I be allowed to attend?

[Mister DNA]

No. You need to take a more dynamic position, such as, "I'm all for Free Speech because it means that my leftist student group can disrupt this event by shouting down the speakers!"

[Somalian Road Corporation]

Mario Savio would heartily approve.

[The Enforcer]

Only coming if there will be women...

[chaussures air max]

I see