Home Cases Valdosta State University: Student Expelled for Peacefully Protesting Parking Garages Cases Valdosta State UniversitySearch all Cases Case News Case OverviewCase NewsCase Documents Case News 20th anniversary: This September in FIRE history September 30, 2019 News After ‘Barnes’ Settlement, Colleges Must Answer $900,000 Question July 24, 2015 News Eight Years After Student’s Unjust Expulsion from Valdosta State U., $900K Settlement Ends 'Barnes v. Zaccari' July 23, 2015 Press Release Barnes Is Back! Eleventh Circuit Restores First Amendment Claim January 12, 2015 Press Release 2013 in Review: Threats from Washington, Victories in the States December 30, 2013 Press Release FIRE and Broad Coalition File Brief Defending Free Speech in Student 'Facebook Collage' Case December 17, 2013 Press Release ‘Augusta Chronicle’ on the ‘Defeat of Tyranny’ at Valdosta State March 12, 2013 FIRE’s Robert Shibley On Air with Vicki McKenna This Evening February 18, 2013 Campus Clampdowns on Free Speech Flunk Their Legal Tests February 16, 2013 Blog Jury Finds Former College President Personally Liable for $50,000 in Victory for Student Rights February 1, 2013 Press Release UPDATE: Hayden Barnes Trial Underway in Georgia; New Video with Attorney Bob Corn-Revere January 29, 2013 Expelled Valdosta State Student Earns Early Win in State Court July 27, 2012 Date Set For Barnes v. Zaccari Trial July 20, 2012 Victory Stands: Eleventh Circuit Denies Former Valdosta State President’s Appeal June 7, 2012 Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Eleventh Circuit’s Important Message to University Administrators February 9, 2012 Eleventh Circuit to University Administrators: Respect Student Rights February 9, 2012 Eleventh Circuit Affirms Ruling against Former Valdosta State President in Victory for Student Rights February 8, 2012 Press Release Eleventh Circuit Hears Arguments in Major Student Rights Case, 'Barnes v. Zaccari' November 17, 2011 This Month in FIRE History: Victory at Valdosta State September 19, 2011 FIRE Cases Figure Strongly in 'Chronicle of Higher Education' Article on Retaliation Against Faculty Speech August 3, 2011 Hayden Barnes at the 2011 CFN Conference June 8, 2011 Greg in 'Huffington Post' on What's at Stake for Students' Rights in Eleventh Circuit Case April 13, 2011 Joined by Broad Coalition, FIRE Files Brief in Support of Student Rights in 'Barnes v. Zaccari' April 12, 2011 Adam Kissel on Threat Assessment Teams in 'USA TODAY' January 14, 2011 Hayden Barnes' Victory in Federal Court, Currently on Appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, is a Major Story to Follow in 2011 December 23, 2010 News Valdosta State Lawsuit Update: Hayden Barnes' Qualified Immunity Victory Headed to Eleventh Circuit on Appeal November 2, 2010 News In 'Huffington Post,' FIRE President Explains Importance of Valdosta State Win September 23, 2010 Blog Motion for Reconsideration in Valdosta State Case Seeks Recognition of First Amendment, Susbtantive Due Process Violations September 15, 2010 Blog Media Reactions Regarding Benchmark Student Speech Victory Continue September 14, 2010 Blog Zaccari Statement on Federal Court Loss Ignores the Facts and Defies Rationality September 13, 2010 Let Valdosta State Ruling Be a Warning to University Administrators: Qualified Immunity Will Not Bail You Out September 10, 2010 Press and Academic Community React to Federal Court Victory in Georgia September 8, 2010 Victory in Federal Court for Student Expelled for Peaceful Protest; University President Held Personally Responsible for Rights Violation September 7, 2010 Victory in Federal Court for Student Expelled for Peaceful Protest; University President Held Personally Responsible for Rights Violation September 7, 2010 Press Release Brief in Valdosta State Lawsuit Argues Why Administrators Should Be Personally Liable for Rights Violations April 29, 2010 Blog Damning Reply Brief Filed with Federal District Court in Hayden Barnes’ Case April 29, 2010 Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on the Campus Culture Wars April 22, 2009 FIRE in Action: Valdosta State University January 19, 2009 Blog Stop Invoking Virginia Tech to Punish Protected Speech November 24, 2008 Good News from Georgia: Federal District Court Issues Important First Order in Valdosta State Lawsuit November 21, 2008 Blog Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Valdosta State and the Importance of Free Speech on Campus September 26, 2008 Valdosta State U Victory Discussed in ‘FIREside Chats’ Episode September 22, 2008 Blog Weekly Media Round-up: Two Major Free Speech Victories Start the Year on a High Note September 19, 2008 Blog Valdosta State Comes Off FIRE’s Red Alert List September 17, 2008 Blog How Can Valdosta State University Get off FIRE's Red Alert List? August 27, 2008 Blog FIRE Exposes Unrepentant Abusers of Liberty in ‘U.S. News’ College Rankings Issue August 25, 2008 Press Release At Valdosta State, New Leadership or More of the Same? August 21, 2008 News Legacy in Tatters, Embattled VSU President Retires June 30, 2008 Blog When Schools Punish Creative Work May 20, 2008 Blog Schools struggle with dark writings May 20, 2008 Blog Greg Lukianoff on ‘Threatening’ Speech in ‘The Wall Street Journal’ May 20, 2008 News VSU Lawsuit Update: Barnes Files Motion for Summary Judgment May 12, 2008 News An Update on Valdosta State University Featured in New Podcast May 5, 2008 News “Muzzle Tov” to Brandeis and Valdosta State from Greg April 11, 2008 News Associated Press, Harvey Silverglate and Blogosphere Cover the Jefferson Muzzles April 10, 2008 News Episode 104: FIRE's Case at Valdosta State University March 10, 2008 News FIRE in Action: Valdosta State University March 3, 2008 News FIRE Challenges Valdosta State University’s Free Speech Zone in New Video March 3, 2008 News Video of Hayden Barnes and Valdosta State on FOX News February 29, 2008 News Media Take Note of Valdosta Victory January 18, 2008 News Victory at Valdosta State: Georgia Board of Regents Finally Reverses Expulsion January 17, 2008 News Valdosta State University: Victory for Free Speech January 17, 2008 Press Release New Facebook Monitoring Software Raises Troubling Questions January 14, 2008 News Valdosta State Case Gets More Attention January 14, 2008 News ‘Inside Higher Ed’ Covers Valdosta Suit January 11, 2008 News Student Files Federal Lawsuit Against Valdosta State University After Expulsion for Peaceful Protest January 10, 2008 Press Release Wrongfully Expelled Student to Valdosta State: See You in Court January 10, 2008 News Stand Up for the First Amendment: Let the Georgia Board of Regents Know the Constitution Still Counts January 7, 2008 News Colleges, Mandatory Counseling, and the Right of Private Conscience December 31, 2007 News Valdosta State University: 2007’s Worst Becomes 2008’s Priority December 28, 2007 News Threats, Intimidation, and Free Speech December 27, 2007 News University of Georgia Violates Anonymity of Course Evaluations to Punish Offensive Speech, Then Violates FERPA December 4, 2007 News Red Alert: Valdosta State University November 27, 2007 News A Legacy of Repression: Valdosta State President’s Early Retirement Can’t Hide Unconstitutional Abuse of Power November 15, 2007 News Amid Free Speech Scandal, Embattled Valdosta State President Announces Early Retirement November 15, 2007 News Valdosta Update: FIRE Responds to GA Board of Regents’ Non-Response November 1, 2007 News Expelled From College for Eco-Collage October 31, 2007 News Valdosta Case Hits Blogs, Media October 29, 2007 News At Valdosta, an Atrocious Violation of Due Process October 25, 2007 News Valdosta State University Expels Student for Peacefully Protesting New Parking Garages October 24, 2007 Press Release Valdosta State Student Expelled For Criticism of School October 3, 2007 News
Valdosta State University: Student Expelled for Peacefully Protesting Parking Garages Cases Valdosta State UniversitySearch all Cases
20th anniversary: This September in FIRE history September 30, 2019 News After ‘Barnes’ Settlement, Colleges Must Answer $900,000 Question July 24, 2015 News Eight Years After Student’s Unjust Expulsion from Valdosta State U., $900K Settlement Ends 'Barnes v. Zaccari' July 23, 2015 Press Release Barnes Is Back! Eleventh Circuit Restores First Amendment Claim January 12, 2015 Press Release 2013 in Review: Threats from Washington, Victories in the States December 30, 2013 Press Release FIRE and Broad Coalition File Brief Defending Free Speech in Student 'Facebook Collage' Case December 17, 2013 Press Release ‘Augusta Chronicle’ on the ‘Defeat of Tyranny’ at Valdosta State March 12, 2013 FIRE’s Robert Shibley On Air with Vicki McKenna This Evening February 18, 2013 Campus Clampdowns on Free Speech Flunk Their Legal Tests February 16, 2013 Blog Jury Finds Former College President Personally Liable for $50,000 in Victory for Student Rights February 1, 2013 Press Release UPDATE: Hayden Barnes Trial Underway in Georgia; New Video with Attorney Bob Corn-Revere January 29, 2013 Expelled Valdosta State Student Earns Early Win in State Court July 27, 2012 Date Set For Barnes v. Zaccari Trial July 20, 2012 Victory Stands: Eleventh Circuit Denies Former Valdosta State President’s Appeal June 7, 2012 Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Eleventh Circuit’s Important Message to University Administrators February 9, 2012 Eleventh Circuit to University Administrators: Respect Student Rights February 9, 2012 Eleventh Circuit Affirms Ruling against Former Valdosta State President in Victory for Student Rights February 8, 2012 Press Release Eleventh Circuit Hears Arguments in Major Student Rights Case, 'Barnes v. Zaccari' November 17, 2011 This Month in FIRE History: Victory at Valdosta State September 19, 2011 FIRE Cases Figure Strongly in 'Chronicle of Higher Education' Article on Retaliation Against Faculty Speech August 3, 2011 Hayden Barnes at the 2011 CFN Conference June 8, 2011 Greg in 'Huffington Post' on What's at Stake for Students' Rights in Eleventh Circuit Case April 13, 2011 Joined by Broad Coalition, FIRE Files Brief in Support of Student Rights in 'Barnes v. Zaccari' April 12, 2011 Adam Kissel on Threat Assessment Teams in 'USA TODAY' January 14, 2011 Hayden Barnes' Victory in Federal Court, Currently on Appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, is a Major Story to Follow in 2011 December 23, 2010 News Valdosta State Lawsuit Update: Hayden Barnes' Qualified Immunity Victory Headed to Eleventh Circuit on Appeal November 2, 2010 News In 'Huffington Post,' FIRE President Explains Importance of Valdosta State Win September 23, 2010 Blog Motion for Reconsideration in Valdosta State Case Seeks Recognition of First Amendment, Susbtantive Due Process Violations September 15, 2010 Blog Media Reactions Regarding Benchmark Student Speech Victory Continue September 14, 2010 Blog Zaccari Statement on Federal Court Loss Ignores the Facts and Defies Rationality September 13, 2010 Let Valdosta State Ruling Be a Warning to University Administrators: Qualified Immunity Will Not Bail You Out September 10, 2010 Press and Academic Community React to Federal Court Victory in Georgia September 8, 2010 Victory in Federal Court for Student Expelled for Peaceful Protest; University President Held Personally Responsible for Rights Violation September 7, 2010 Victory in Federal Court for Student Expelled for Peaceful Protest; University President Held Personally Responsible for Rights Violation September 7, 2010 Press Release Brief in Valdosta State Lawsuit Argues Why Administrators Should Be Personally Liable for Rights Violations April 29, 2010 Blog Damning Reply Brief Filed with Federal District Court in Hayden Barnes’ Case April 29, 2010 Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on the Campus Culture Wars April 22, 2009 FIRE in Action: Valdosta State University January 19, 2009 Blog Stop Invoking Virginia Tech to Punish Protected Speech November 24, 2008 Good News from Georgia: Federal District Court Issues Important First Order in Valdosta State Lawsuit November 21, 2008 Blog Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Valdosta State and the Importance of Free Speech on Campus September 26, 2008 Valdosta State U Victory Discussed in ‘FIREside Chats’ Episode September 22, 2008 Blog Weekly Media Round-up: Two Major Free Speech Victories Start the Year on a High Note September 19, 2008 Blog Valdosta State Comes Off FIRE’s Red Alert List September 17, 2008 Blog How Can Valdosta State University Get off FIRE's Red Alert List? August 27, 2008 Blog FIRE Exposes Unrepentant Abusers of Liberty in ‘U.S. News’ College Rankings Issue August 25, 2008 Press Release At Valdosta State, New Leadership or More of the Same? August 21, 2008 News Legacy in Tatters, Embattled VSU President Retires June 30, 2008 Blog When Schools Punish Creative Work May 20, 2008 Blog Schools struggle with dark writings May 20, 2008 Blog Greg Lukianoff on ‘Threatening’ Speech in ‘The Wall Street Journal’ May 20, 2008 News VSU Lawsuit Update: Barnes Files Motion for Summary Judgment May 12, 2008 News An Update on Valdosta State University Featured in New Podcast May 5, 2008 News “Muzzle Tov” to Brandeis and Valdosta State from Greg April 11, 2008 News Associated Press, Harvey Silverglate and Blogosphere Cover the Jefferson Muzzles April 10, 2008 News Episode 104: FIRE's Case at Valdosta State University March 10, 2008 News FIRE in Action: Valdosta State University March 3, 2008 News FIRE Challenges Valdosta State University’s Free Speech Zone in New Video March 3, 2008 News Video of Hayden Barnes and Valdosta State on FOX News February 29, 2008 News Media Take Note of Valdosta Victory January 18, 2008 News Victory at Valdosta State: Georgia Board of Regents Finally Reverses Expulsion January 17, 2008 News Valdosta State University: Victory for Free Speech January 17, 2008 Press Release New Facebook Monitoring Software Raises Troubling Questions January 14, 2008 News Valdosta State Case Gets More Attention January 14, 2008 News ‘Inside Higher Ed’ Covers Valdosta Suit January 11, 2008 News Student Files Federal Lawsuit Against Valdosta State University After Expulsion for Peaceful Protest January 10, 2008 Press Release Wrongfully Expelled Student to Valdosta State: See You in Court January 10, 2008 News Stand Up for the First Amendment: Let the Georgia Board of Regents Know the Constitution Still Counts January 7, 2008 News Colleges, Mandatory Counseling, and the Right of Private Conscience December 31, 2007 News Valdosta State University: 2007’s Worst Becomes 2008’s Priority December 28, 2007 News Threats, Intimidation, and Free Speech December 27, 2007 News University of Georgia Violates Anonymity of Course Evaluations to Punish Offensive Speech, Then Violates FERPA December 4, 2007 News Red Alert: Valdosta State University November 27, 2007 News A Legacy of Repression: Valdosta State President’s Early Retirement Can’t Hide Unconstitutional Abuse of Power November 15, 2007 News Amid Free Speech Scandal, Embattled Valdosta State President Announces Early Retirement November 15, 2007 News Valdosta Update: FIRE Responds to GA Board of Regents’ Non-Response November 1, 2007 News Expelled From College for Eco-Collage October 31, 2007 News Valdosta Case Hits Blogs, Media October 29, 2007 News At Valdosta, an Atrocious Violation of Due Process October 25, 2007 News Valdosta State University Expels Student for Peacefully Protesting New Parking Garages October 24, 2007 Press Release Valdosta State Student Expelled For Criticism of School October 3, 2007 News
Eight Years After Student’s Unjust Expulsion from Valdosta State U., $900K Settlement Ends 'Barnes v. Zaccari' July 23, 2015 Press Release
FIRE and Broad Coalition File Brief Defending Free Speech in Student 'Facebook Collage' Case December 17, 2013 Press Release
Jury Finds Former College President Personally Liable for $50,000 in Victory for Student Rights February 1, 2013 Press Release
UPDATE: Hayden Barnes Trial Underway in Georgia; New Video with Attorney Bob Corn-Revere January 29, 2013
Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Eleventh Circuit’s Important Message to University Administrators February 9, 2012
Eleventh Circuit Affirms Ruling against Former Valdosta State President in Victory for Student Rights February 8, 2012 Press Release
FIRE Cases Figure Strongly in 'Chronicle of Higher Education' Article on Retaliation Against Faculty Speech August 3, 2011
Greg in 'Huffington Post' on What's at Stake for Students' Rights in Eleventh Circuit Case April 13, 2011
Joined by Broad Coalition, FIRE Files Brief in Support of Student Rights in 'Barnes v. Zaccari' April 12, 2011
Hayden Barnes' Victory in Federal Court, Currently on Appeal to the Eleventh Circuit, is a Major Story to Follow in 2011 December 23, 2010 News
Valdosta State Lawsuit Update: Hayden Barnes' Qualified Immunity Victory Headed to Eleventh Circuit on Appeal November 2, 2010 News
In 'Huffington Post,' FIRE President Explains Importance of Valdosta State Win September 23, 2010 Blog
Motion for Reconsideration in Valdosta State Case Seeks Recognition of First Amendment, Susbtantive Due Process Violations September 15, 2010 Blog
Let Valdosta State Ruling Be a Warning to University Administrators: Qualified Immunity Will Not Bail You Out September 10, 2010
Victory in Federal Court for Student Expelled for Peaceful Protest; University President Held Personally Responsible for Rights Violation September 7, 2010
Victory in Federal Court for Student Expelled for Peaceful Protest; University President Held Personally Responsible for Rights Violation September 7, 2010 Press Release
Brief in Valdosta State Lawsuit Argues Why Administrators Should Be Personally Liable for Rights Violations April 29, 2010 Blog
Good News from Georgia: Federal District Court Issues Important First Order in Valdosta State Lawsuit November 21, 2008 Blog
Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Valdosta State and the Importance of Free Speech on Campus September 26, 2008
Weekly Media Round-up: Two Major Free Speech Victories Start the Year on a High Note September 19, 2008 Blog
FIRE Exposes Unrepentant Abusers of Liberty in ‘U.S. News’ College Rankings Issue August 25, 2008 Press Release
Student Files Federal Lawsuit Against Valdosta State University After Expulsion for Peaceful Protest January 10, 2008 Press Release
Stand Up for the First Amendment: Let the Georgia Board of Regents Know the Constitution Still Counts January 7, 2008 News
University of Georgia Violates Anonymity of Course Evaluations to Punish Offensive Speech, Then Violates FERPA December 4, 2007 News
A Legacy of Repression: Valdosta State President’s Early Retirement Can’t Hide Unconstitutional Abuse of Power November 15, 2007 News
Amid Free Speech Scandal, Embattled Valdosta State President Announces Early Retirement November 15, 2007 News
Valdosta State University Expels Student for Peacefully Protesting New Parking Garages October 24, 2007 Press Release
