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‘Torch’ Posting Slowdown
You may have noticed that the pace of our Torch postings has slowed over the last few days. That’s not because the universities are suddenly respecting basic civil liberties. Instead, FIRE — America's leading campus rights organization — is in the exciting process of moving to new and larger offices in Philadelphia. As anyone who has experienced an office move knows, the entire affair can be quite disruptive to normal operations. We will, however, be in our new place (which will provide room for growth—we’re piled on top of each other in our present office) and fully up to speed very soon. We will issue a formal announcement when the move is complete.
FIRE, a free speech non profit, effectively and decisively defends the fundamental rights of tens of thousands of students and faculty members on our nation’s campuses while simultaneously reaching millions on and off campus through education, outreach, and college reform efforts.
Recent Articles
Get the latest free speech news and analysis from FIRE.

FIRE statement on FCC approval of Skydance-Paramount acquisition
The FCC has no business dictating the editorial choices of media outlets or conditioning merger approval on the viewpoints a network chooses to air.

The mercenary spyware industry is a menace to global free expression
As authoritarian regimes weaponize commercial spyware to silence critics, a booming mercenary surveillance industry thrives in the shadows — and even democracies aren’t immune.

Smile for the surveillance state
With mask bans spreading across college campuses, Nora Mitchell explores how these policies are eroding academic freedom.

FIRE statement on Columbia University's settlement with Trump administration
On July 24, 2025, Columbia University announced that it reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal funding that was revoked over allegations of its handling of anti-Semitism on campus.