Free Speech on Campus

Professors R. Brown and L. Epstein
LAW 620
Spring 2026

Evaluation and Outcomes

Evaluation

  • Attendance and Participation (35%). You should attend seminar meetings and come prepared to discuss the assigned materials.

  • Presentations/Write-Ups (65%). During five seminar sessions students will make presentations to the class on a question related to the week’s free speech controversy, as well as submit a 1-2 page summary of your presentation.

    Specifically:

    • For each of the 5 controversies, we’ve randomly assigned you to a group of 5 students (there are 4 groups for each controversy). Note: You’ll each get one week off—meaning that of the 5 controversies we’ll cover, you’ll participate as a presenter in 4. On your “off” week, you should still review the controversy and readings.

    • The assignments are listed on each controversy webpage. For example, for the controversy on white supremacist speakers, the assignments are listed on the white supremacist speakers controversy page.

    • If you’re in Group 1, your presentation should answer the question/address the topic in Question 1 under Class Presentations on each controversy page. If you’re in Group 2, answer Question 2, and so on.

    • Your group’s in-class presentation should be 10-15 minutes. Your group should also submit a 1-2 page summary of your presentation.

    • Each presentation/write-up will be about 16% of your grade.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the major justifications (theories) for free speech

  2. Evaluate doctrines governing free speech that are relevant to campus controversies

  3. Recognize the extent to which non-legalistic factors—especially political values and bias—affect how people (include judges) evaluate free speech claims

  4. Apply your knowledge to contemporary free-speech campus controversies

  5. Consider how theory and doctrine should inform university policies over free speech