Columbia University: Hockey Club Punished for 'Offensive' Flyer

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," FIRE Press Release, 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

Media Coverage

• "A Columbia expert on free speech is accused of speaking too softly," Tamar Lewin and Karen Arenson, The New York Times, October 22, 2006
• "Columbia University and the liberal prude police," Jason Antebi, Family Security Matters, October 10, 2006: There is a movement on college campuses to create a new right--one so powerful that it even trumps our right to free speech. Born out of college mission statements that wish to promote "understanding" and "tolerance" and "acceptance," it is the right of every student and administrator to feel perpetually comfortable and never be offended. The latest bastion of sensitivity to uphold this entitlement was Columbia University.
• "'Pussycat' spat roars at Columbia," Michael O'Keeffe, New York Daily News, October 8, 2006: Columbia University's administration still doesn't get it when it comes to the First Amendment. After weeks of criticism, the university lifted the semester-long suspension it imposed on the men's hockey club over a sophomoric flyer.
• "Stop squelching speech," Chris Perez and Tara Sweeney, The Columbia Spectator, October 6, 2006: A free speech controversy has hit Columbia's campus-even if some refuse to admit it. On Wednesday, the Office of Athletic Communications released a statement announcing a reduced punishment for the men's ice hockey club. While we are pleased the club has regained its season, even the remaining punishment is disconcerting. Administrators and student government representatives have eschewed the free speech issue at the heart of the controversy, instead clinging to the club's procedural errors and disciplinary history as being the reasons behind the punishment. But would the club be facing any punishment if its flyers did not contain the phrase "Stop being a pussy?"
• "Columbia hockey club to leave penalty box early," Newsday, October 5, 2006
• "Columbia U. in catfight over word of many meanings," Chronicle of Higher Education, October 4, 2006:  
• "Whassup, pussycat? Columbia U. said to back down in dispute with hockey team," Chronicle of Higher Education, October 4, 2006
• "Columbia hockey club suspended over recruitment fliers," Desmond Butler, Associated Press, September 29, 2006: Columbia University has suspended its men's ice hockey club because of recruiting fliers the team distributed earlier this month that included an off-color expression, students said Friday.