Wisconsin Lawmakers Considering Legislation to Punish Students Who Disrupt Campus Speeches

COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 9: Jonathan Butler (c), a University of Missouri grad student who did a 7 day hunger strike listens during a forum speaking to students on the campus of University of Missouri - Columbia on November 9, 2015 in Columbia, Missouri. Students celebrate the resignation of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe amid allegations of racism. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)

CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

Wisconsin state lawmakers are considering legislation that would punish and potentially expel University of Wisconsin students who disrupt speeches and demonstrations. The measure being pushed by Republican legislators also would require that the state university campuses remain neutral on public issues.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, one of the measure's chief sponsors, said in a press release yesterday (April 27th), "All across the nation and here at home, we've seen protesters trying to silence different viewpoints. Free speech means free speech for everyone and not just for the person who speaks the loudest." However, University of Wisconsin-Madison spokesman John Lucas said their policy already dictates facilitating free speech equally and objectively, and that legally mandating punishments takes away the ability of a disciplinary committee to consider all the circumstances.

The bill would include a range of discipline for students or faculty for, quote, "violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, obscene, unreasonably loud, or other disorderly conduct" that interferes with someone's free speech rights. Any student found to have done so twice would be suspended for a semester or expelled. Students would be entitled to a disciplinary hearing and appeals.


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