Ames, Iowa — (RI) — The non-profit group Speech First has filed a lawsuit against Iowa State University saying three policies instituted on campus have had a chilling impact on free speech.
The president of the group, Nici Neily, says one policy prevents students from writing chalk messages on campus.
Neily says the ban prevents communication at a key time when presidential candidates are visiting campus.
Neily says the school also banned sending emails in support of candidates. And she says they created a Campus Climate Reporting System to take reports of things students found offensive.
Neily says the process used to react to the reports raised concerns with students.
She says this process has a chilling impact on the students’ rights to free speech.
Neily says these three things go directly against the idea of what should happen on a campus.
Neily says Speech First has asked the court to declare that the chalking ban, email prohibition on political speech, and Campus Climate Response System are all unconstitutional, and to enjoin both the chalking ban and prohibition on electronic correspondence in support of candidates and ballot initiatives in advance of the February 3rd Iowa Caucuses. An ISU spokesperson says they are reviewing the lawsuit and have no comment.
Image courtesy of Radio Iowa
