November 21, 2024: Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) is celebrating a direct win with a policy change at Westfield State University (WSU). Earlier this year, SLF sent a legal letter in response to WSU student government association overreaching their power and refusing to allow conservative voices on campus when it rejected students’ application to form a Turning Point USA chapter. SLF warned the university that its actions were in direct violation of the First Amendment by discriminating against alternate views, and it directed WSU to establish an appeals process to prevent such abuses from happening in the future.
Following SLF’s demand for change, WSU changed the campus rules to directly allow for these appeals. Now, students who face this type of discrimination from their elected student representatives can hold them accountable. This direct win will have a long-lasting impact on Westfield State University’s campus.
SLF is glad to continue the tradition of fighting for the rights of all people, especially students, to have their voices heard and their First Amendment rights protected.
Southeastern Legal Foundation Executive Director Kim Hermann said, “SLF makes it one of its goals to ensure that First Amendment Rights are protected across the board. This includes ensuring that students have the right to speak up for their beliefs on campus. We are so proud that Westfield State University recognized the error of its ways following our letter and changed its policy. This long-lasting change will ensure that all student groups have the ability to congregate on campus and engage in important discourse.”
BACKGROUND ON THIS CASE: https://www.slfliberty.org/case/westfield-state-university/
Download press release.