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Clay Calvert Quoted on Education Secretary’s Free Speech Comments

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Journalism Professor Clay Calvert, director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project, was quoted in “DeVos’ Strong Words on Suppression of Speech, State of Civics Education“, published in Education Week on Sept. 18.

Clay_Calvert
Clay Calvert

The article covered US. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ Constitution Day speech where she criticized college administrators who prevent students from hearing perspectives that the administrators may disagree with.

Calvert agreed that students need to have a clear sense of their First Amendment rights before they enter college, realize that the First Amendment protects all kinds of speech, even if it’s offensive, and understand that private organizations can censor someone, even if the government can’t.

But Calvert disagreed with the Secretary about the suppression of conservative views.

“I don’t agree with her that people no longer search for or discuss the truth or that all administrators are left wing and try to inculcate their values,” he said. “What she is attempting to say is that certain academics are trying to manipulate that marketplace of ideas to exclude certain viewpoints from coming out.”

 

Posted: September 18, 2018
Category: College News, Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project News