Gonzaga University: Censorship of ‘Hate Speech’

Case Materials

• "Letter from Gonzaga University Director of Public Relations Dale Goodwin to FIRE, December 4, 2003," December 4, 2003
• "Letter from Gonzaga University Director of Public Relations Dale Goodwin to FIRE, December 4, 2003," December 4, 2003
• "Update: Gonzaga Plays With the Truth; Denies That Punishment for Using Word "Hate" Ever Occurred," December 4, 2003
• "Victory: Gonzaga Revokes ‘Hate Speech’ Punishment," FIRE Press Release, November 25, 2003: Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington has reaffirmed the value of freedom of speech after unfairly disciplining a group for posting fliers with allegedly "discriminatory" language. In response to a letter from FIRE, Gonzaga agreed to lift the punishment of the College Republicans for posting fliers containing the word "hate." The word was used as part of the title of the speaker's book, Why the Left Hates America.
• "Letter from Gonzaga University Vice President of Student Life Sue Weitz to FIRE, October 23, 2003," October 23, 2003
• "FIRE Letter to Gonzaga University President Robert J. Spitzer, October 20, 2003," October 20, 2003
• "Flyer," October 7, 2003
• "Letter from Gonzaga University Office of Student Activies Disciplining the College Republicans, October 1, 2003," October 1, 2003

Media Coverage

• "Practical Advice for Fraternities Caught in the Battle for Free Speech on Campus," Matthew Vasconcellos and Greg Lukianoff, Fraternal Law, September 16, 2004: In this month’s issue of Fraternal Law, FIRE Legal Director Greg Lukianoff and legal researcher Matt Vasconcellos offer important advice to fraternities that find themselves (often unwillingly) involved in the battle for free speech on campus.
• "The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, and the Pasadena Star-News on FIRE," March 3, 2004: Universities still do not comprehend that their contempt for free speech places them far, far outside of the mainstream of American public opinion. In particular, they seem continually surprised that the media, who live or die by the Bill of Rights, understand freedom of expression full well. The March 1 lead editorial of The Philadelphia Inquirer, an editorial in today's USA Today, and yet another editorial in the Pasadena Star-News offer a compelling textbook education, if academic administrators are willing to listen, in the relationship of higher education and freedom of speech.
• "Must've Been Something They Hate--II," James Taranto, The Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2003
• "University Revokes 'Hate Speech' Punishment," WorldNetDaily, November 26, 2003: The president of Gonzaga University has rescinded punishment of the school's College Republicans club, which was taken to task for posting fliers with the book title "Why the Left Hates America."
• "University revokes 'hate speech' punishment," WorldNetDaily, November 26, 2003
• "Flier's Wording Generates National Attention," The Bulletin, November 21, 2003
• "University Restricts Students Over 'Hate ' Speech," Randy Hall, CNSNews, October 6, 2003