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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry Signs Executive Order to Enhance Free Speech on College Campuses

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed an executive order aimed at enhancing freedom of expression policies on college campuses throughout the state. The order, enacted on October 1, 2024, mandates that the Board of Regents work towards ensuring students can freely engage in discussions and express their beliefs. The governor has stated that such freedom is essential for education and personal growth.

Press Event at LSU

At a press event held at Louisiana State University (LSU), Landry highlighted the necessity of creating academic environments that support open dialogue. He expressed concern over instances where certain voices are muted while others dominate discussions on campuses across the nation.

Building on Existing Laws

This executive order builds upon provisions from a 2018 state law that requires colleges and universities to submit annual reports to the Legislature and the governor’s office regarding any barriers or incidents hindering free speech. The order also promotes collaboration between the Board of Regents and educational institutions to establish effective free speech policies.

Lack of Response

Although policies were initially implemented in 2018, there has been a lack of official response from legislative representatives, the governor’s office, or LSU concerning the submission of the mandated annual reports.

Key Aspects of the Order

Key aspects of the order include maintaining public areas on campuses as traditional forums for noncommercial expressive activities and clearly identifying these forums. The order also stresses that reporting policies should not penalize actions that do not constitute student-on-student harassment.

Support from the Board of Regents

Misti Cordell, Chairwoman of the Board of Regents, recognized the importance of fostering diverse voices within academia, noting that these varied perspectives are influential in shaping future discourse.

Collaboration with Student Organizations

The announcement coincided with Landry’s collaboration with the LSU chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization. The group’s vice president, Ethan Vogin, criticized current campus norms, arguing that they encourage a singular ideology that suppresses diverse viewpoints.

Concerns About Ideological Dominance

While Landry and Vogin did not define the dominant ideology being referenced, their comments align with common conservative critiques of perceived liberal bias in higher education.

Response to Related Inquiry

In a related inquiry, Landry was asked about the potential conflict between his focus on dominant viewpoints and a law he supported that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in all K-12 and college classrooms. He defended this law by asserting that the Ten Commandments convey foundational principles of Western civilization and that disregarding their importance undermines contemporary freedoms.

Free Speech Ratings in Louisiana Colleges

Recent assessments from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) revealed that several Louisiana colleges did not meet standards for free speech protection. Conversely, Louisiana Tech University and McNeese State University have been recognized for their free speech policies, attaining a “green light” rating from FIRE, signifying that there are no significant threats to free speech at these institutions.

(Source: Louisiana Illuminator)

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