Students Need Free Speech Guidance

Modern technology gives public exposure and potential liability to off-the-cuff comments

Because student speech is more visible than ever before, the threat of censorship has grown accordingly. An all-night conversation that might have remained behind dorm room doors a decade ago is now just as likely to be emblazoned upon a Facebook page, where it may be discovered the next morning by a far wider audience than intended. Given this new visibility, all manner of student speech -- criticism of professors or university administrators, heated political debate, dissenting or unpopular opinions, embarrassing jokes -- may provoke dangerous attempts to censor and punish student expression.