The University of Southern Mississippi has earned a top free speech rating for aligning all of its speech policies with the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The policy changes earned the university the top free speech “green light” rating by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), joining a league of 47 other institutions around the country that have previously earned the distinction.
To earn the rating, the school amended six of its free speech polices and also revised its policies on student protests and demonstrations.
“The University of Southern Mississippi is proud to support freedom of speech on our campuses,” Southern Miss vice president for student affairs, Dr. Dee Dee Anderson, said. “Free speech allows students to hear invited speakers, as well as debate and challenge ideas and thoughts.”
FIRE’s vice president of policy reform, Azhar Majeed, also commended the university for making its written policies more free speech friendly.
“The Golden Eagles should be proud to earn FIRE’s green light rating — the gold standard for protecting campus free speech,” Majeed said. “Students and faculty members can breathe easier knowing their First Amendment rights are protected at Southern Miss.”
Earlier this month, the University of Arizona also earned the top free speech rating for amending its yellow light speech code, boosting the university’s overall ranking.
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