ACS at Boston University School of Law Presents… First Things First: A Discussion on the First Amendment, Free Speech at Universities, & the Rule of Law

The rights protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are essential for the proper functioning of a responsive democracy. Too frequently, the First Amendment’s core freedoms are ignored or weaponized to suit the political and policy priorities of those in power. The U.S. Supreme Court inconsistently applies longstanding First Amendment jurisprudence, ignoring precedents they deem inconvenient. The Administration targets those whose speech it disfavors, from law firms to private individuals. State and local governments are quick to criminalize protected protest activity to stifle dissent and chill social movements. These actions raise important questions as to whether our legal and political systems can safeguard First Amendment rights for all, or whether skewed and selective application of these freedoms will become the norm. Join ACS at Boston University School of Law for a discussion on Free Speech at Universities with Professor Brian Soucek, Professor of Constitutional Law from UC Davis School of Law. Professor Soucek will speak about freedom of speech in the university and the tension between professors' speech rights and students' equality rights. A noteworthy and topical example is the context of trans students' choice of honorifics and pronouns.

This event is not open to the public.