Cal State system revises conduct code to settle free-speech suit

Students in San Francisco States college Republicans club sued the CSU system for a part of the handbook that they said violated their free speech. "The lawsuit challenged provisions in the conduct code that the College Republicans said could potentially punish students for speech protected by the First Amendment." (Article from Student Press Law Center) The conduct code states that students have to "be civil to one another." The school had been investigating the club for being in violation of the conduct code after an anti-terrorism rally where the students stomped on Islamic flags. After the lawsuit was filed the CSU board of trustees made the decision to change the code so that it was clear that students could not face disciplinary charges for not following the 'civil code' or for speech. '"I definitely think it's a positive step for free speech on campus and in the CSU system," said Leigh Wolf, former president of College Republicans and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit."' The plaintiffs of the lawsuit received $300 in damages and SF State will be paying their attorney fees. Well if you want to be really nit-picky about free speech...I think this was kind of a silly lawsuit, but I am glad the the students one in the end, and I can rest easy that free speech is being protected on CSU campuses!