University of Colorado at Boulder: Suppression of Affirmative Action Bake Sale

Case Materials

• "Twin Victories for Free Speech on Campus," FIRE Press Release, February 13, 2004:  

Media Coverage

• "The AHA's Double Standard on Academic Freedom," David Beito, Ralph Luker, and Robert “K. C.” Johnson, Perspectives (American Historical Association), March 1, 2006: While academic freedom eventually triumphed in most of these cases, it was only because outside organizations, especially the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), spread adverse publicity or threatened lawsuits. In the meantime, the college administrators in question had displayed to the world an appalling disdain for free speech, while all too many faculty, by not speaking out, showed either failure of nerve or outright complicity in injustice.
• "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.
• "The intimidating atmosphere for free speech on campus," Greg Lukianoff, Colorado Daily, February 19, 2004: The University of Colorado at Boulder decided to teach us all a lesson about free speech last week, but it may not be the lesson it intended.
• "CU speech ban was half-baked," Denver Post, February 12, 2004
• "CU GOP fights off administration for affirmative action bake sale," Katherine Crowell and Scott Heiser, Colorado Daily, February 11, 2004
• "CU bake sale targets affirmative action," Marcos Mocine-McQueen, Denver Post, February 11, 2004
• "Students fight ban on 'action' bake sale," Denver Post, February 10, 2004
• "Will students buy at the 'bake sale?'," Meagan Balink, Colorado Daily, February 9, 2004