In a recent email sent out to the Copper Mountain College community, the Interim President of the College described the institution’s free speech policies and procedures, following complaints about one student’s exercise of that Constitutional right. Z107.7 asked him what occasioned the email, and to elaborate upon it.
Copper Mountain College Interim President Jeff Cummings told us that a student has been using the “free speech zone” on campus as a place to make statements of a religious nature. Cummings described the student as “loud and boisterous,” and wrote in his email that complaints have been received from others about him. The College has Board and Administrative policies that govern public speech. Cummings stressed in his email that “The student speaking has respectfully followed all of the parameters outlined in our policies and has adhered to limiting the speech to our designated ‘free speech area.’ He told us that some other colleges have gotten into trouble by setting up free speech areas that were tiny or remotely located; the one at CMC is in the well-used Quad 3 area. Cummings shone a positive light on the ongoing experience, saying that it taught the student body about First Amendment issues, and gave faculty an opportunity to teach about constitutional protections. But Cummings’ email also said “We have been in contact with our legal advisors to confirm that we are striking an appropriate balance between the students’ legal right to assemble and speak while maintaining a safe educational environment on campus for everyone.”
FREE SPEECH AT COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
