Social media companies are increasingly being called to account for how their apps are affecting young people. Robert Kim explores "In re: Social Media Addiction," a lawsuit that combines multiple cases that have been brought against social media companies for their addictive effects. The cases illustrate the tension between product…

The challenges that campuses face when it comes to free speech and inclusion are part of a larger debate in the United States over the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. Since 2021, Republican state lawmakers have introduced an avalanche of "educational gag orders"--legislation to ban a vague set of so-called divisive…

This case explores the challenges faced by educational leaders at Maple Middle School, a rural school in a diverse community, involving a physical altercation between two students, subsequent student protests, and an investigation by Child Protective Services. Amid growing community unrest, a divided school board must address student discipline…

A brief examination of the fashion world reveals a multitude of learning opportunities for the business law curriculum. Fashion Law, a niche legal practice that addresses the broad range of business law concerns facing the fashion industry, has only recently gained a more respected position within legal research, debate, and discourse. This…

Over the last 3 years, the advocacy organization Speech First has filed six lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of bias response teams on the grounds that they violate free speech. Bias response teams are university-wide committees that respond to reports of racially charged incidents on college campuses to promote institutional goals of…

This essay focuses on the evolution of the conflict over free speech rights as it has played out on campuses and in courtrooms. A review of several recent court cases reveals that the most serious threats to academic freedom may originate from within the campus community, not from outside.

This article examines the factors contributing to the suppression of free speech in Palestine, with a focus on the West Bank. We argue that anti-democratic politics and restricted public discourse in both public and academic spheres are mutually reinforced by the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority. Despite education's potential as a…

Freedom of speech and civil discourse in higher education are crucial to the personal and academic development of students. This essay begins with a brief overview of the protected status of freedom of speech, and the connection to civil discourse in higher education. Then, the issue of growing divisiveness in American society is examined, and how…

The scholarly journal is an increasingly homogenised global institution marked by pro forma writing, standardised processes of review and production and uniform design aesthetics. Recognising that this model does not necessarily serve the interdisciplinary agenda of a small community of music scholars in South Africa, the journal South African…

Libraries have always been civic institutions in their communities. Whether it's a public library supporting community members with election information or a school library offering 18-year-olds voter registration opportunities, participating in civic matters is a mission that comes naturally to librarians. In this article, Carolyn Foote recalls…

Racism, social media, and free speech collide on a high school campus when a student creates an offensive poster that a classmate posts on social media. This case describes a school administrator's conversations and actions with students, teachers, and the community addressing bigotry, race, and free speech on campus. The scenario is presented…

The authors feel there is a need of a new and different kind of classroom conversation about free speech--one that not only considers the legal and aspirational dimensions but also weighs the practice and impact of speech in daily life. Two factors make this new conversation particularly urgent. First, the avalanche of social media communication,…

Aotearoa New Zealand ratified the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1993, which means its principles and rights are obligatory, not optional. So, UNCRC has important implications for teachers, leaders, and boards of trustees in schools. UNCRC has 54 articles. A good starting point for teachers is the articles…

According to the ACLU (2005), ". . .at times of national stress -- real or imagined -- First Amendment rights come under enormous pressure." So, too, academic freedom of expression for faculty, staff, and students has become a casualty in the post-9/11 world. Academics were criticized and reprimanded for not being patriotic enough. Using…

The tension emanated from deeply polarized socio-cultural values has found its way into the Canadian university campuses. In their endeavour to strike a balance between promoting diversity, inclusion and respecting free speech, the Canadian higher educational institutions have encountered formidable challenges. Central to the contention revolving…