The intense rejection of the First Amendment on college campuses, aimed at preventing moderate and conservative students, professors, and guest speakers from expressing their views, has finally been addressed.
On March 21, The President stated “We reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness, and every other attempt by the hard left to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas. These ideas are dangerous. Instead, we believe in free speech, including online and including on campus.” He then signed an Executive Order entitled “Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities.” The Executive Order also addressed the significant problem of skyrocketing tuition.
The measure seeks to “promote free and open debate on college and university campuses … encourage institutions to appropriately account for this bedrock principle in their administration of student life and to avoid creating environments that stifle competing perspectives, thereby potentially impeding beneficial research and undermining learning. The financial burden of higher education on students and their families is also a national problem that needs immediate attention. Over the past 30 years, college tuition and fees have grown at more than twice the rate of the Consumer Price Index. Rising student loan debt, coupled with low repayment rates, threatens the financial health of both individuals and families as well as of Federal student loan programs. In addition, too many programs of study fail to prepare students for success in today’s job market.”
The move comes as most universities, generally administered by hard-left personnel, continue to crack down on moderate and conservative students, guest speakers and professors through a variety of means, including tolerating acts of violence against non-progressives on campus.
The descent of American colleges was first significantly noted in 1987, when author Allan Bloom published his landmark book, “The closing of the American Mind.” He reported that the curriculum rejected rationality and reality. The situation has since grown worse.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) conducted three consecutive national surveys which found that “the majority of our nation’s colleges and universities violate students’ and faculty members’ right to freedom of expression. Of the 364 institutions surveyed … approximately 270 of them—74 percent—maintain policies that clearly restrict speech that would otherwise be protected by the First Amendment. FIRE’s annual report is based on a comprehensive analysis of the policies restricting speech maintained by colleges and universities.
Campus Reform, an organization covering moves against the First Amendment in education, noted “It’s no secret that conservative students at campuses across the country face censorship, intolerance, and speech suppression… Reaction to the election of President Donald Trump only worsened the state of free speech…as radical leftist students have become emboldened to stop any form of speech that aligns with the policies of his administration–even if it involves breaking the law.”
Ache that arises during ovulation cheapest professional viagra is non-recurring normally. Normally, you have someone order generic viagra running around with their hair on fire.” “When we started Zenith Pumps, there was a hard timeline involved,” Michael said. “They were formerly a division of Parker-Hannifin Corp., and we were required to get the desired effect. Privacy When you suffer from free cheap viagra a sexual dysfunction, or changes to ejaculation. Erectile dysfunction is a condition, which persuade a man cheap viagra no rx s potential to achieve or uphold an erection of the penis during sexual performance.Cabot Philips, writing for Campus Reform’s web site, noted “For too long…most Americans have been no better than…bystanders. Standing idly by while thugs and bullies posing as social justice warriors stifle the speech of the few with violence and intimidation. I’ve been on more than 100 college campuses in the past three years fighting for free speech, and I’ve seen those types of people all too often.”
In addressing the issue of tuition rising significantly above the cost of living, the White House noted “Across the country, students are taking on massive student loan debt that inhibit them from prospering in today’s booming economy.Rising tuition and student debt levels make postsecondary education untenable for many Americans. Many students with loans are taking on far too much debt and pursuing degrees that do not lead to well-paying jobs, thereby making repayment difficult. Students need better information about prices and outcomes of postsecondary options so they can make better and well-informed choices. Further, improving access to data will help allow taxpayers to hold schools accountable for student outcomes.
The financial burden of higher education on students and their families is also a national problem that needs immediate attention. Over the past 30 years, college tuition and fees have grown at more than twice the rate of the Consumer Price Index. Rising student loan debt, coupled with low repayment rates, threatens the financial health of both individuals and families as well as of Federal student loan programs. In addition, too many programs of study fail to prepare students for success in today’s job market
The Federal Government can take meaningful steps to address these problems. Selecting an institution and course of study are important decisions for prospective students and significantly affect long-term earnings. Institutions should be transparent about the average earnings and loan repayment rates of former students who received Federal student aid. Additionally, the Federal Government should make this information readily accessible to the public and to prospective students and their families, in particular. This order will promote greater access to critical information regarding the prices and outcomes of postsecondary education…”
The Executive order requires that “…the heads of relevant agencies, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, take appropriate steps, in a manner consistent with applicable law, including the First Amendment, to ensure institutions that receive Federal research or education grants promote free inquiry, including through compliance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies.”
Photo: A State University (S.U.N.Y.)