Faculty and staff from colleges and universities across the state participated in the Oklahoma Campus Free Speech Summit held recently at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Hosted by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Oklahoma Free Speech Committee, the summit featured remarks from committee chair Andy Lester, attorney at Spencer Fane LLP; University of Central Oklahoma President Todd Lamb; and Chancellor Sean Burrage. The program was facilitated by Joseph Thai, affiliated professor at Seattle University School of Law and former presidential professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Through presentations, case studies, and interactive small- and large-group discussions, summit participants explored how free speech principles apply to campus-related situations. Attendees also submitted questions in advance, several of which were incorporated into training scenarios.
“The Oklahoma Campus Free Speech Summit is another indicator that our state is the nation’s leader in promoting and protecting freedom of expression at all public institutions of higher education,” said Lester. “Administrators from our colleges and universities came together to discuss individual free speech rights and the duties our institutions have to safeguard expressive freedom. The commitment to the free exchange of ideas – education without indoctrination – fosters critical thinking, the key ingredient to lifelong learning and a better, more civil society.”
The State Regents’ Oklahoma Free Speech Committee was formed following passage of House Bill 3543, authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell, which was signed into law during the 2022 regular legislative session. The committee’s statutorily defined duties include reviewing state system institutions’ free speech policies; reviewing complaints of free speech violations; examining free speech training employed at individual institutions; and developing or identifying free speech training required every two years for college deans, department heads, and campus personnel responsible for creating free speech policies or handling free speech complaints. More information about the State Regents’ Oklahoma Free Speech Committee is available at https://okhighered.org/state-system/free-speech/.