EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIU Edwardsville has settled with students over a free speech zone.
Students sued claiming their right to free speech was being violated. They were upset over a 900-square foot zone designated for demonstrations.
The university has agreed to modify several policies and eliminated the speech zone policy. The school is also paying $10,000 in attorneys fees.
Students are also allowed to speak in all outdoor areas of campus.
A statement from the school is as follows:
The University is pleased to reach an agreement, but some clarity is necessary regarding the University’s policies and procedures. SIUE has always supported the notion that every student should be able to speak freely and peacefully, regardless of their political viewpoint and without fear of being punished.
The University is constantly reviewing and modifying its policies and procedures, and would have been happy to talk with the College Republicans, the Alliance Defending Freedom, or others, had they brought their concerns to our attention prior to filing the lawsuit.
Some other misconceptions brought forth by this suit regarding free speech on the SIUE campus include:
- SIUE students have not been confined to the free speech zone and have not been denied any activities or locations
- SIUE has not limited student free speech activities to less than one percent of the SIUE campus and has demonstrated that fact many times
- SIUE has not required students to acquire a permit to use any space for free speech, and students have not paid security fees
- SIUE has not required an administrator’s permission for student expression
- SIUE did not agree to pay damages, because there were none
It should be noted that the University has agreed to pay the $10K for the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees, in order to save the University the much greater cost of protracted federal litigation.
