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Top 5 Reasons to Attend the 2012 CFN Conference

jaclyn@thefire.org (Jaclyn Hall) — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:24:46 +0000

FIRE's annual CFN conference—happening this year July 27-29, just outside of Philadelphia—unites student advocates for free speech from across the country. Attendees learn from distinguished First Amendment scholars, fellow student activists, and FIRE staff about the philosophical and legal arguments for student rights on campus. I went to my first CFN conference as a FIRE intern in 2008, and it is truly a fantastic experience. The 2012 CFN Conference is fast approaching and I think all interested students should apply, but don't just take my word for it. Here are the top 5 reasons to attend the CFN conference, according to past student attendees:

5. "The speakers are absolutely fantastic. Never have I had such a good time listening to really intelligent and informed people speak about important issues so well."

4. "The conference provides a fast paced intro to student rights and motivational cases to inspire activism."

April Student Spotlight: Christe Thompson '14, Drexel University

jaclyn@thefire.org (Jaclyn Hall) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Each month, the CFN Student Spotlight features a student member who is working to promote individual rights on his or her campus. For April, I am pleased to announce that our featured student is Christe Thompson ‘14 of Drexel University. A third-year student at Drexel, Christe began working at FIRE through her school's co-op program during her sophomore year. Using the lessons about free speech that she's learned at FIRE, Christe has been lobbying administrators to get rid of Drexel's restrictive speech codes.

Read Christe's story at our Student Spotlight page, and keep checking The Torch to hear more about CFN students' accomplishments!

March Student Spotlight: Allen Mendenhall of Auburn University

lyzi@thefire.org (Lyzi Diamond) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Each month, the CFN Student Spotlight features a student member who is working to promote individual rights on his or her campus. For March, I am pleased to announce that our featured student is Allen Mendenhall of Auburn University. As a Ph.D. candidate and teacher at Auburn, Allen has helped establish an environment open to free speech and robust debate both in the classes he teaches and the classes he attends. He maintains an open-door policy for students and he encourages them to speak their minds in his classroom, regardless of their opinions. He also advocates actively for free speech on campus, most recently by writing an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser about FIRE's recent, ongoing case at Auburn regarding selective enforcement of a rule prohibiting window postings in dorm rooms.

Read Austin's story at our Student Spotlight page, and keep checking The Torch to hear more about CFN student accomplishments!

James Madison Student Praises 'Vibrant' Free Speech Wall

jaclyn@thefire.org (Jaclyn Hall) — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:36:33 +0000

Last month, I wrote a Torch post highlighting student activism that took place on campuses across the country during Free Speech Week, April 1-8. For one of the most popular demonstrations, many student groups built free speech walls to provide an open forum for student expression. Students constructed temporary walls out of cardboard or wood, or covered building walls with paper, and provided markers for fellow students to write, draw, or post anything they wanted.

Student group Madison Liberty at James Madison University (JMU) decided to host a wall, and I recently came across a blog post about their experience that I want to share. Luke Wachob, a student in the group, writes:

'Free Speech Week' Celebrated on Campuses Nationwide

jaclyn@thefire.org (Jaclyn Hall) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:34:01 +0000

FIRE celebrated Free Speech Week last week by teaming up with Students For Liberty to send FIRE speakers and materials to student groups across the country. We're pleased to announce it was a great success!

Save the Date: Fifth Annual Campus Freedom Network Conference, July 27th-29, 2012

jaclyn@thefire.org (Jaclyn Hall) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

FIRE is pleased to announce that the 2012 Campus Freedom Network Conference will be held July 27-29 at Bryn Mawr College, just outside of Philadelphia. Over the past 4 years, more than 200 students have attended CFN conferences to learn about their rights from eminent First Amendment scholars, discuss cases with FIRE staff, and hear from fellow students about the best ways to advocate for change. Our 2012 CFN conference promises to be the best one yet!

We are thrilled to announce that our Saturday evening speaker will be Christina Hoff Sommers, a former philosophy professor and an author best known for her books Who Stole Feminism? and The War Against Boys. Robert Corn-Revere, a partner at the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine in Washington, D.C., a First Amendment expert, and a featured speaker from the 2011 conference, will return this summer to update attendees on Barnes v. Zaccari, a federal civil rights case with major implications for student rights on campus. Other sessions will feature members of the FIRE Speakers Bureau and panels led by students who have been involved in FIRE cases and reforming campus speech codes. Check back on The Torch and at thecfn.org for more speaker announcements as the conference date approaches.

We welcome all college students (including incoming freshmen) interested in learning about and defending free speech on campus to apply for the 2012 CFN Conference. The conference is FREE, and FIRE also will provide up to $300 to reimburse travel expenses for attendees to travel to Bryn Mawr. Space is limited, so you should register soon!

Register now at thecfn.org/conference!

Villanova Cancels Workshop by Controversial Gay Performance Artist

adam@thefire.org (Adam Kissel) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

In a letter sent today, FIRE and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) have asked Villanova University to explain how academic freedom and free speech are safe on campus in the wake of Villanova's decision to cancel a workshop sponsored by faculty in the university's Department of Communication. The workshop by gay-rights activist and artist Tim Miller, scheduled for April 16-20, was canceled after criticism of the content of Miller's past work came to the attention of Villanova's senior leadership. The workshop is not necessarily related to any of Miller's past performances, and Villanova has strongly stated that although it is a private, Catholic institution, it honors freedom of speech and academic freedom.

February Student Spotlight: Austin Ford (University of California, Los Angeles '12)

lyzi@thefire.org (Lyzi Diamond) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Each month, the CFN Student Spotlight features a student member who is working to promote individual rights on his or her campus. For February, I am pleased to announce that our featured student is Austin Ford of the University of California, Los Angeles ’12. In his time at UCLA, Austin has done significant work to inform his fellow students about individual rights on campus and has pointed out flaws in campus policy. With his group, the Bruin Democrats, Austin is tabling during UCLA's "Know Your Rights" week, handing out information from FIRE and the ACLU. He has also taken notice of recent changes to UCLA's student conduct code which, he believes, have taken away significant due process rights. In the future, he hopes to work with his group to reform these policies.

Read Austin's story at our Student Spotlight page, and keep checking The Torch to hear more about CFN student accomplishments!

FIRE and SPLC Announce Joint Happy Hour in DC

jaclyn@thefire.org (Jaclyn Hall) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

FIRE and SPLC Announce Joint Happy Hour in DC

If you are in the Washington area, we encourage you to attend FIRE's joint happy hour with the Student Press Law Center (SPLC):

FIRE & SPLC Happy Hour

Saturday, February 18
8:30-11:30 pm
Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant DC
808 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

Drink tickets will be available for attendees on the day of the event. RSVP on our Facebook page or by emailing jaclyn@thefire.org. We hope to see you there!

Isn't There More to the Story at Oakland University? Not Really. (Part 1)

adam@thefire.org (Adam Kissel) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

In this blog series, I am discussing the four examples of concerns cited by Oakland University Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Mary Beth Snyder regarding student Joseph Corlett's "behavior" (all of them actually examples of expression) which "was perceived by female members of the campus community as intimidating and/or threatening."