Princeton University: Student Group Forced to Host Podcast Off-Campus
Cases
Princeton University
Case Overview
On September 16, 2024, the Princeton University Whig-Cliophilic Society hosted a live recording of Advisory Opinions, a podcast about American law and culture featuring journalists David French and Sarah Isgur. During the podcast, Isgur revealed Princeton had denied Whig-Clio access to university room reservations for the event, citing the university’s tax-exempt status, which requires the university to refrain from advocating for politicians. FIRE wrote Princeton on September 19, making clear that IRS rules governing nonprofits only govern the university’s activity and do not apply to events hosted by registered student organizations. Our letter also explained that Princeton’s commitment to protecting student expression barred it from excluding Whig-Clio from university facilities based on the perceived content of the podcast.