ACE’s latest To the Point brief, “Campus
Inclusion and Freedom of Expression: Managing Social Media,” focuses on how
and why campus leaders should be proactive in managing social media platforms,
as well as how to respond to problems that arise.
The brief lists the most commonly asked questions about free
speech and social media in the higher education setting as well as case studies
of First Amendment disputes involving social media. The brief was written by Robert H. Jerry II
of the University of Missouri School of Law.
Jerry writes, “Recent events on college campuses—and
throughout society generally—have frequently juxtaposed the values of diversity
and inclusion against those of freedom of expression, which creates complex
challenges for college and university leaders, many of whom want to encourage robust
critical thinking and the free expression of ideas, but do not want to
adversely affect the student experience or diminish the learning environment.
This To the Point brief provides communications and legal counsel teams and
others wrestling with these issues with observations and insights—informed by
the First Amendment and case law—regarding social media’s implications for the
tension between campus inclusion and freedom of expression.”
The paper lists several considerations for campus leadership
when crafting social media policies. It also gives tips for how to align these
policies with free speech rights.
Click
here to read the full brief.