A year after suing California State University – Los Angeles for shutting down free speech on campus, Young America’s Foundation is winning. The university is now changing its policies to be more inclusive of all speech.
YAF filed a lawsuit in February 2016 against CSULA after the university had attempted to block a YAF-sponsored event featuring conservative commentator Ben Shapiro for being ‘controversial.’ Shapiro had refused to back down from the event (and was met by a violent mob who barricaded him in at his own lecture), and the conservative nonprofit followed up by charging the university with a free speech violation involving “playing favorites toward some while shutting out others.”
Finally, the university has decided to modify how it accepts speakers on campus.
In an agreement with YAF, the university reportedly will “not impose any fees, including security fees, based upon the viewpoint” of future speakers on campus, “will not unilaterally refuse to schedule or cancel any scheduled event based upon the viewpoint of the speech that is to take place,” and “will enforce terms of its Administrative Policy on Time, Place, and Manner of Free Expression P007 in a viewpoint-neutral manner.” YAF has dismissed charges as a result.
This is not just a win for YAF or just conservatives; it is a win for all future speakers on college campuses.
