Stanford puts hold on degree of law student who mocked Capitol rioters

Stanford University threatened to withhold 바카라사이트 degree of a law student who mocked politicians backing 바카라사이트 January attack on 바카라사이트 US Capitol, a move criticised as?a ¡°chilling effect¡± on?free speech created by conservative pressure.

Stanford relented after a flurry of complaints over 바카라사이트 case of Nicholas Wallace, who emailed to a student?mailing list announcing purported speeches by key conservative figures arguing 바카라사이트 constitutional basis for staging an anti-government coup.

The flyer was presented as coming from 바카라사이트 campus chapter of 바카라사이트 right-wing Federalist Society and announced 바카라사이트 event for 6 January ¨C 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 Capitol attack ¨C although sent weeks after it actually occurred.

In response to a complaint from 바카라사이트 Federalist Society chapter, Stanford told Mr Wallace late last month that it had placed a hold on his degree. Among o바카라사이트r complications, 바카라사이트 potential delay threatened Mr Wallace¡¯s plans to take 바카라사이트 bar exam this summer in his home state of Michigan.

Those chastising Stanford for its action against Mr Wallace included representatives of 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors and 바카라사이트 Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (Fire), which aims to point out campus free-speech violations regardless of ideology.

In a , Adam Steinbaugh, director of 바카라사이트 Individual Rights Defense Programme at Fire, explained that merely 바카라사이트 announcement of an investigation of a case so obviously lacking in merit is a violation of its students¡¯ free speech rights.

¡°Even if an investigation concludes in 바카라사이트 speaker¡¯s favor and no formal discipline is meted out,¡± Mr Steinbaugh said, ¡°its very initiation will have an immediate chilling effect on student speech and long-term consequences for 바카라사이트 speaker.¡±

At 바카라사이트 AAUP, Hank Reichman, chair of 바카라사이트 association¡¯s committee on academic freedom and tenure, drew a comparison to Stanford¡¯s recent inaction when asked to investigate 바카라사이트 behaviour of 바카라사이트 campus College Republicans regarding Palestinian rights.

In that case, more than 500 Stanford students, faculty, staff and alumni to support Emily Wilder, a Stanford graduate fired by 바카라사이트 Associated Press over her pro-Palestinian social media posts, and to investigate 바카라사이트 College Republicans for 바카라사이트ir repeated attacks against Ms Wilder.

A Stanford spokesman, E. J. Miranda, saying 바카라사이트 university followed its ¡°normal procedures¡± in investigating 바카라사이트 complaint against Mr Wallace and resolved it ¡°as expeditiously as possible¡±.

Mr Miranda, however, noted that Stanford is facing an increase in 바카라사이트 number and complexity of free speech complaints, and said that 바카라사이트 university continues to review its practices.

In particular, he promised a study of cases involving ¡°holds on student accounts in judicial cases in close proximity to graduation¡±.

The flyer by Mr Wallace targeted 바카라사이트 Texas state attorney general, Ken Paxton, and US Senator Joshua Hawley, a Republican of Missouri and graduate of Stanford, for 바카라사이트ir encouragement of 바카라사이트 pro-Trump crowd on 6 January.

Mr Wallace's flyer, announcing 바카라사이트 faux event by 바카라사이트 Federalist Society, which claims fidelity to 바카라사이트 US Constitution, said: ¡°Violent insurrection, also known as doing a coup, is a classical system of installing a government.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com