Columbia University: Hockey Club Punished for 'Offensive' Flyer

After intense public criticism, Columbia University revoked its semester-long suspension of the Men's Ice Hockey Club. Columbia suspended the club for the semester—effectively canceling the club's entire season—for posting recruiting flyers containing language that some found offensive. FIRE, along with other groups and individuals both within and outside the university, vociferously opposed Columbia's attack on free expression. Columbia's Office of Athletics Communications issued a statement announcing a reduction in the club's punishment. The club was allowed to engage in league play, but it remained suspended from its preseason and nonleague games. The club was also required to apologize for the flyer, attend "leadership training," and remains on probation for one year.

    Case Materials

  • "FIRE in ‘The New York Times’ on Free Speech at Columbia," October 23, 2006: Columbia University’s recent struggles with free speech were covered in the pages of The New York Times on Sunday, with an article concentrating on questions about Columbia President Lee Bollinger’s commitment to free speech on campus. In the article, FIRE President Greg Lukianoff points out that while Bollinger’s public statements endorse free speech, questions remain as to whether Bollinger can “walk the walk” when it comes to issues of free expression on campus. FIRE is continuing its efforts to ensure that Columbia lives up to Bollinger’s promises of freedom of thought and expression with a follow-up letter sent to the university last week asking, once again, that Columbia’s Teachers College change evaluation standards that amount to a political litmus test for education graduate students.
  • "Columbia Men's Ice Hockey Club Recruitment Flyer," October 5, 2006
  • "Columbia Reinstates Men’s Hockey Club Following Free Speech Controversy," October 5, 2006: After a week of intense public criticism, Columbia University has revoked its semester-long suspension of the Men’s Ice Hockey Club. Late last month, Columbia suspended the club for the semester—effectively canceling the club’s entire season—for posting recruiting flyers containing language that some found offensive. FIRE, along with other groups and individuals both within and outside the university, vociferously opposed Columbia’s attack on free expression.
  • "Columbia University Athletics Department Press Release, October 4, 2006," October 4, 2006
  • "FIRE Letter to Columbia President Lee Bollinger, September 27, 2006," September 27, 2006