An organization of campus judicial administrators called on universities across the country Monday to examine whether their policies protect their students' right to freedom of speech.
The Association for Student Judicial Affairs passed a resolution urging colleges to review their rules for student conduct to ensure that the free speech rights of all university students are protected.
ASJA President David Parrott said the group is concerned some college environments may stifle the expression of a broad spectrum of views.
"We seek to provide resources that address the impact of offensive free speech and behavior on the university community and individual students," Parrott said. "Both protecting speech and addressing the impact of offensive free speech are important."
ASJA, a 16-year-old association, claims more than 1,250 members representing more than 900 institutions of higher education in both the United States and Canada.
The resolution acknowledges the authority of public and private universities to place narrow, content-neutral restrictions on the time, place and manner of student speech so as to avoid "serious disruption." However, it emphasizes that vague or overly broad policies which limit student expression are unconstitutional.
"Discussions about free speech on college campuses, the case law generated by the courts and the various perspectives represented in the American culture cause the Association for Student Judicial Affairs to constantly examine the practices in this field," Parrott said.
Parrott said ASJA plans to employ a task force comprised of its members to guarantee that colleges afford proper free speech rights.
"This task force will look closely at the twin issues of protecting free speech and addressing the impact of offensive free speech," Parrott said. "We believe that the university is a forum for the exchange of ideas."
The Individual Rights Coalition, a student organization on Grounds concerned with student freedom of speech, supports ASJA's resolution.
"The University can at times be very one-sided -- some courses that are taught are politically one-sided," IRC spokesperson Andrew Connors said. "Around Grounds, students are faced with far-left political agendas -- you do not see many conservative speakers here. Why does the University mostly sponsor discussions that look at one viewpoint?"
University spokesperson Carol Wood said the University values a wide range of dialogue.
"Given our unique institutional heritage, I believe all members of the University community have an especially strong appreciation for the importance of the free exchange of ideas in higher education," Wood said.
The IRC said it seeks to uphold the free exchange of ideas.
"We are not concerned with one side being right or wrong," Connors said. "Rather, we uphold the free flow of thought and then make sure that both sides of a viewpoint are shown equally with valid points."
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