Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest Comes Out Strong Against First Amendment

Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest says he will introduce the "Campus Free Expression Act" to the General Assembly when it reconvenes next month. The "Campus Free Expression Act" is another of those Republican specialities, a piece of legislation given a title that's intentionally misleading.

Because the "Campus Free Expression Act" is anything but. It would bar any students, employees, or faculty members at the 16 member institutions of the University of North Carolina from disrupting public meetings or events with protests.

"Disruption." How will that be defined? Sometimes free speech is disrupting to the smug indifference of public officials who do not want to hear any conflicting opinion.

Let's call this the "Dan Forest Refrigerator Act of 2016," since Mr. Forest intends to put a chill into the expression of opinions different from his own.


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

How will this affect the accreditation of the UNC system schools?

These types of policies were an issue at least one university.

https://www.thefire.org/southwestern-college-accreditation-in-jeopardy-culture-of-fear-and-intimidation-on-campus/

Anonymous said...

Those in Raleigh will not care.

Unknown said...

To say that Dan Forrest is "against" free speech because he supports the "Campus Free Expression" bill shows that the writer is totally ignorant of the situation on America's college campuses or an attempt by the writer to intentionally mislead his readers. As a part of the ultra liberal war against free speech when it hurts the feelings of "social warriors": these "warriors" believe that those who are not politically correct in all they say should be prohibited, by law, from speaking their mind or expressing an opinion which does not agree with the "warrior's" view. As a part of their activity on behalf of this belief the "warriors" have taken it upon themselves to assault those who try to attend speeches by those with which the "warrior's" disagree, they have shouted down, tried to block off and otherwise prevent speech with which they do not agree. It is easy then to understand why ultra liberals are against the bill; they would no longer be able to regulate speech on college campuses. It is not Dan Forrest trying to oppose free speech, it is Dan Forrest trying to prevent self-appointed "social warriors" from stifling any speech which does not tow the ultra liberal line.

waterfall643 said...

It's pretty darn clear that this attempt to squelch expressions counter to the conservative element is not intended to foster free speech but rather to muzzle any opposition or contrary opinion.

Anonymous said...

Well said, Jerry Wilson