Free Speech on Campus

Professor Lee Epstein and Chancellor Andrew D. Martin
Political Science 334
Spring 2025

Case Controversies

General Instructions

  1. In class, on February 28, we’ll assign each student to a group, from Group 1-Group 5.

  2. After the February 28th class (but before the March 1st class), please read the material associated with the group to which you’ve been assigned.

  3. Then, on February 28th, you’ll meet with your group. Working with your teaching assistant (a current law school student), your group will (1) review the controversy, (2) divide into two subgroups to answer one of the two questions at the end of the controversy, and (3) prepare a presentation on your subgroup’s answer.

  4. Your group has a total of 20 minutes (maximum) for its presentation (about 10 minutes per subgroup). Following the presentations, the class will have an opportunity to ask each subgroup questions.

The Controversies (click on your group number)

Group 1. White Supremacist Speakers (TA is Zej Moczydlowski, m.zej@wustl.edu) [2:15-2:45 pm]
Group 2. Provocateurs at Commencement (TA is Nareh Derhartounian, d.nareh@wustl.edu) [2:45-3:15 pm]
Group 3. (What to Do About) Student Hecklers (TA is Tylah Gantt, g.tylah@wustl.edu) [3:15-3:45 pm]
Group 4. The Pronoun Dispute (TA is Ethan Michael Knoll, e.knoll@wustl.edu) [4:00-4:30 pm]
Group 5. The Controversy Over Academic Freedom at Penn (TA is Rob Smoot, r.smoot@wustl.edu) [4:30-5:00 pm]