Canceled for a Tweet
When Georgetown Law suspended faculty member Ilya Shapiro and launched an investigation into a controversial tweet, FIRE came to his defense.
Academic Freedom
What We Defend
Academic freedom gives faculty the right to teach, research, and speak about matters of public concern without being punished — even where their views, findings, or methods are controversial. Educators on college and university campuses must be free to speak their minds, ask tough questions, and facilitate learning without the threat of institutional censorship, coercion, or intimidation.
The United States Supreme Court ruled in Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957) that the government should be “extremely reticent to tread” in areas of “academic freedom and political expression.” Chief Justice Earl Warren held that research and scholarship “cannot flourish in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust,” and that students and faculty “must always remain free to inquire, to study and to evaluate, to gain new maturity and understanding; otherwise our civilization will stagnate and die.”
"The foundation of intellectual discovery": The role of academic freedom in civil society
Newsdesk
FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the news you need to stay informed about academic freedom and faculty rights in higher ed.
Defending Your Academic Freedom in Court
Legal Support for Faculty
Are you a faculty member at a public college or university being investigated or punished for your scholarship or speech? FIRE’s lawyers may be able to help.
FIRE is now my favorite organization in America. Its advice and support in those critical first 24-72 hours of the cancellation campaign against me were crucial in the pushback that ultimately allowed me to survive and thrive.
Have your academic freedom rights been violated?
If you are being investigated or punished for exercising your right to academic freedom, let FIRE know.
Defending Your Rights
FIRE defends the academic freedom rights of students and faculty through several core services.
Campus Rights Advocacy
Campus Rights Advocacy provides free assistance to students and faculty facing civil liberties violations on college and university campuses.
Reforming College Policies
FIRE’s college reform team works to proactively and systematically challenge campus policies that violate free speech rights.
Legislative Policy Reform
FIRE works closely with lawmakers across the country and political spectrum to protect civil liberties.
FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus
Resources
Too many college campuses silence students who dare exercise their right to free expression. For a more thorough analysis of your expressive rights at colleges and universities, consult FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus.
Our Advocacy, Your Rights
Learn more about how FIRE advocates for your rights.
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