School Spotlight
Emerson College
Speech Code Rating
- At present, FIRE does not maintain information on this school's policies.
Emerson College: Conservative Student Group Investigated for Distributing “China Kinda Sus” Stickers
October 5, 2021
On September 29, 2021, Emerson College’s Turning Point USA chapter passed out stickers reading “China Kinda Sus” with an image of a hammer and sickle to criticize China’s government. Under pressure from other student groups, the university initiated an investigation and suspended the group. On October 5, FIRE wrote to Emerson explaining that the stickers… Read more
Emerson says new president must appreciate ‘diverse ideas’ and ‘free expression.’ Its treatment of TPUSA says otherwise.
August 30, 2022
Emerson College’s search for a new president is underway as interim President William Gilligan’s time as leader of the private Boston college winds down. Among the priorities for the new president listed in a prospectus published on the school’s presidential search website is the understanding that “free expression” of ideas is a “non-negotiable” value. As… Read more
Emerson College triples down on censorship, derecognizing TPUSA chapter after publicly denouncing its ‘China Kinda Sus’ stickers
February 15, 2022
The concluding part of a trilogy is almost always the worst — just ask Star Wars, the Matrix, or Michael Corleone. Emerson College appears determined to live down to expectations as the college looks to outdo itself, punishing the campus chapter of Turning Point USA a third time for its protected speech, this time by… Read more
10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2022
February 2, 2022
There’s no shortage of colleges and universities that will go to great lengths to stifle free speech. Some institutions are worse than others, which is why each year for over a decade, FIRE compiles a list of the worst-of-the-worst. Since our first list in 2011, FIRE has named and shamed 80 institutions in 33 statesfor… Read more
What the truck? Mobile billboard to criss-cross Boston criticizing Emerson College for censoring students
January 19, 2022
Civil liberties organization undertakes ad campaign calling out Emerson’s intolerance of free expression; ads to appear on the “T” Emerson found a student group responsible for bias because it handed out stickers critical of the Chinese government. College decried stickers for expressing “anti-China hate” Club president: “I was born in Singapore … so to be… Read more
STICKER SHOCK: Emerson College doubles down on censorship, denies TPUSA chapter’s appeal of ‘bias’ charge for distributing stickers criticizing China’s government
November 16, 2021
BOSTON, Nov. 16, 2021 — Criticizing a foreign government is a serious offense at Emerson College. That’s the message Emerson’s administration sent on Friday by denying the appeal of a conservative student group that passed out stickers critical of the Chinese government. “Emerson’s actions from start to finish are extremely worrying,” said Sam Neves, president… Read more
Last chance for Emerson College to prove it is not ‘kinda sus’
November 10, 2021
On Nov. 3, Emerson College’s Conduct Board found a student organization violated college policy when it handed out stickers that read “China Kinda Sus,” a slang term for acting suspiciously. But right now, the only thing that’s “kinda sus” on campus is Emerson’s insistence on punishing a student organization for protected expression. After initially suspending… Read more
Emerson College Pooh-Poohs free speech: Deflecting criticism over censorship of ‘China Kinda Sus’ stickers, Emerson hides tweets critical of China’s government
October 8, 2021
The first rule of holes is simple, but important: When you find yourself in one, stop digging. The first rule of censorship is just as simple, and just as important: When you’re called out for censorship, stop censoring. Censorship, in healthy societies, tends to draw attention, making it an ineffective way to temper public criticism…. Read more
Emerson College investigates, suspends conservative student group for stickers criticizing China’s government
October 5, 2021
BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2021 — Emerson College suspended a campus chapter of conservative student group Turning Point USA on Oct. 1 after members passed out stickers critical of China’s government. Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is demanding the private institution drop its investigation against the students and reaffirm its promises of free… Read more