Inland Lawmaker Proposes Measure to Protect Freedom of Speech on College Campuses

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Riverside County lawmaker concerned that colleges throughout the state are failing to safeguard the First Amendment introduced legislation Monday aimed at rectifying the problem and ensuring "students' liberties are protected."

"The First Amendment is a cornerstone to this country's founding document," said Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore. "Our Constitution is clear: all persons, despite race, religion or creed, have the right to freely voice their opinion without fear of retribution."

Melendez's Campus Free Speech Act would amend the California Constitution to make it illegal for individual college campuses to institute policies that hamstring free speech activity based on political views or anything else.

Specifically, the act would:

• create a uniform policy, applicable to all state-funded campuses, "affirming the importance of freedom of expression" and "nullifying any existing restrictive speech codes"
• prevent administrators from disallowing speakers, regardless of the controversial nature of their subject
• establish disciplinary sanctions for students, or anyone else, who "interferes with the free speech right of others"
• declare that universities should adhere to a general position of neutrality on issues "to encourage the widest possible range of opinion and dialogue within the university itself"
• make it a practice to underscore that policy so students know it in advance
• set up subcommittees tasked with monitoring speech activity and reporting annually to the governor and Legislature on happenings at each campus to address concerns

"Recently, we've seen a trend on California's college campuses of stifling free speech," Melendez said. "The fact that college administrators have done nothing to ensure all of their students' liberties are protected is shameful and un-American."

The most recent controversy erupted at UC Berkeley last week, where author and political commentator Ann Coulter was scheduled to speak at the invitation of the Berkeley College Republicans.

In the days leading up to the event, campus administrators began placing restrictions on Coulter's appearance, culminating in a unilateral cancellation, which the campus then withdrew in the face of a legal challenge.

Coulter ultimately pulled out, citing too many hurdles.

Milo Yiannopoulos, a gay conservative commentator and vociferous supporter of President Donald Trump, was scheduled to speak at the university in February, triggering violent protests against him and those who showed up to see him, some of whom were injured. The event was scrubbed.

"Liberty cannot live without the freedom to speak, and nowhere is that more important than on college campuses, where we educate the leaders of tomorrow," Melendez said. "The institutional silencing of individuals because of differing political ideology threatens the very foundation upon which our country was built."

Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock