School Spotlight

Santa Clara University
Speech Code Rating
- At present, FIRE does not maintain information on this school's policies.
Santa Clara University: Student Government Association’s Denial of Recognition to Young Americans for Freedom Chapter
June 7, 2019
A group of Santa Clara University students sought recognition for the SCU chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, an organization dedicated to advancing conservative principles. After SCU’s Student Government Association denied the club recognition, citing its “ideology” and the existence of other conservative clubs, FIRE wrote to SCU on May 17, 2019, explaining that denying… Read more
Santa Clara University: Student Government Rejects Turning Point USA Chapter Over Its Political Stances
March 7, 2017
In a February 2, 2017 meeting, the Santa Clara University (SCU) Associated Student Government (ASG) rejected recognition status for a prospective Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter on the basis of the group’s political stances and potential ties to the national TPUSA organization.
Santa Clara University: Student Newspaper Censored After Administrators’ Request
March 7, 2017
On February 2, 2017, Santa Clara University (SCU) student newspaper The Santa Clara published an article about a $100 million donation from an SCU alumnus.
Santa Clara University sees the light, finally recognizes YAF chapter
October 10, 2019
It only took two FIRE letters, two Newsdesk articles, and a settlement meeting with Young America’s Foundation’s general counsel, but Santa Clara University finally did the right thing by recognizing a proposed chapter of Young Americans for Freedom — YAF’s student organization — late last month. The university’s reversal of its decision to deny recognition… Read more
Santa Clara University ratifies rejection of student group over its political views
June 27, 2019
FIRE has raised the alarm about Santa Clara University’s treatment of its Young Americans for Freedom chapter for several months now. It started with the student government’s viewpoint-based refusal to recognize it as an official student group, and now culminates with the administration’s astonishing claim that the vote was entirely devoid of ideological malice toward… Read more
Santa Clara student government — again! — denies recognition to student group over its conservative viewpoints
June 7, 2019
Last week, the Santa Clara University Associated Student Government denied recognition to a campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom over the student group’s political stances. The rejection is the second time in a month that the ASG refused recognition to YAF over hostility to the group’s conservative viewpoints. On April 25, the student government… Read more
Santa Clara University says its request that student newspaper remove story was act of “compassion”
March 30, 2017
Censoring is caring? That’s a poor message for a university to send to students — especially one that claims to value free speech. But that’s the line Santa Clara University is sticking with, despite criticism from FIRE, alumni, and its own student newspaper. The controversy over the act of so-called “compassion” started at Santa Clara… Read more
Santa Clara University protects student free speech with one hand, censors with the other
March 7, 2017
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 7, 2017 — Santa Clara University has an inconsistent track record recently when it comes to students’ rights. Last week the university defended the right of students to form a politically unpopular campus group. But administrators didn’t respect the student newspaper’s freedom of speech, pressuring students to remove a quote critical… Read more
Follow FIRE