Murphy Campus Free Speech Roundtable – A Win for First Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee hosted the first ever Campus Free Speech Roundtable in the U.S. Capitol. The purpose of the event was to highlight the importance of intellectual diversity in higher education and to provide lawmakers, outspoken alumni, and stakeholders with an opportunity to share their personal and professional experiences with free speech violations in institutions of higher learning.

The Campus Free Speech Roundtable featured House Republican Conference Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Campus Free Speech Caucus co-chair, Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03), the Young America's Foundation (YAF), the nonpartisan Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), and members of the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA). The event was livestreamed online on Congressman Murphy's YouTube page and playback can be found here.

"I am so glad that we were able to bring together some of the best and brightest voices on issues of free speech in higher education today," said Murphy. "It was our observation that in recent years, institutions of higher education have become vectors of teaching what to think, rather than how to think – they speak often of diversity in all things except opinion. Today was a unique opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of free speech violations on college campuses, take a look at the self-reported data on free speech, and discuss how Congress can be a force for good. It is critical that we foster an environment at colleges and universities that challenges our students intellectually and celebrates diversity of thought and of opinion. Our roundtable was just the first step in engaging outspoken alumni, lawmakers, legal experts, and relevant stakeholders about how we plan to safeguard First Amendment protections for generations to come."

"I have been involved with promoting intellectual diversity and free speech at my alma mater, Cornell University for years, and I have to say, since then, the campus climate has deteriorated…the importance of alumni and Members of Congress being involved cannot be overstated." – RajKannappan, Cornell University alumni and VP of the Young America's Foundation

Roundtable Participants:

Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D., Education and Labor Committee, Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, member of Campus Free Speech Caucus

Rep. Elise Stefanik, House Republican Conference Chairwoman, Education and Labor Committee, member of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee

Rep. Kat Cammack, co-chair, Campus Free Speech Caucus

Karalee Geis, Capitol Hill Outreach Director,YAF

Tyler Coward, Senior Legislative Council, FIRE

Connor Murnane, Alumni Relations Officer, FIRE

Kenny Xu, AFSA, Davidsonians for Freedom of Thought and Discourse, Davidson College & Development Officer, YAF

Victoria Guroian, AFSA, The Generals Redoubt, Washington and Lee

Stuart Taylor, AFSA, Princetonians for Free Speech, Princeton University

Ed Yingling, AFSA, Princetonians for Free Speech, Princeton University

Raj Kannappan, AFSA, Cornell Free Speech Alliance, Cornell University & Vice President, YAF

Watch the Campus Free Speech Roundtable here.

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