Harvard University: Proposed Speech Codes

Case Materials

• "FIRE Letter to Harvard Law School Dean Robert Clark, November 12, 2002," November 12, 2002

Media Coverage

• "America's Academic Tyrants," Walter Williams, CNSNews, September 3, 2003
• "Speech Codes: Alive and Well at Colleges...," Harvey Silverglate and Greg Lukianoff, The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 1, 2003
• "Is Harvard Ditching Free Speech?," Scot Lehigh, The Boston Globe, November 27, 2002
• "Harvard Criticized Over Student Newspaper Action," Charles Forelle, Dow Jones International News Service, November 21, 2002
• "Record Editorial: HLS Needs Harassment Policy Alternatives," The Harvard Law Record, November 21, 2002
• "Harassment Policy Proposal Draws Fire," The Harvard Law Record, November 21, 2002
• "Harvard Mulls Offensive Speech Ban," Jennifer Peter, The Washington Post, November 21, 2002
• "Harvard Law Plan on Speech Causes Stir," Patrick Healy, Boston Globe, November 19, 2002
• "Harbus Editor Resigns," The Harbus, November 18, 2002
• "Difficult Conversations," Dorothy Rabinowitz, The Wall Street Journal, November 18, 2002: Boston attorney Harvey Silverglate, who tracks assaults on free speech at universities, describes the workshops as "an exercise in thought reform disguised as an effort to help students improve their negotiation skills." Dean Todd Rakoff, the program's overseer, stands foursquare behind it, nonetheless. The students needed these skills for their careers, he argues. As to free speech, "We are absolutely in favor of uninhibited debate, in a workable fashion."
• "Cartoon Incites Harvard Free Speech Debate," CNN.com, November 14, 2002
• "Tempers Stirred by Harvard Cartoon," The Boston Globe, November 12, 2002