Dive Brief:
- The University of California Board of Regents will vote on a new policy, the Statement of Principles Against Intolerance, that would prohibit derogatory language, among other forms of "unwelcome conduct."
- The Blaze reports First Amendment supporters are rallying against the policy, saying it would limit free speech in the name of "political correctness."
- The board of regents created a list of unacceptable behaviors, including questioning a student's fitness for a leadership role or place in the university community on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, sex, or sexual orientation.
Dive Insight:
The idea of college students demanding an environment that doesn't make them feel uncomfortable has gotten significant attention in recent months, including from President Barack Obama, who said at a town hall meeting in Des Moines, Iowa that he did not agree with the tactic.
Institutions of higher learning have long been home to complex debates. They have also long been home to student activism, which, in some instances, may have gone too far. Policies against intolerance are laudable. If this new policy is approved, however, California schools will have to find a balance between enforcing its values without silencing opposing views.