In the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, several educators were disciplined for social media posts that were deemed inflammatory and contrary to the educational mission.

A Kansas psychology professor was suspended after stating that “White American men are the most dangerous animals on the planet.” A South Dakota professor was threatened with termination when he allegedly referred to Kirk as a “hate-spreading Nazi.”

Do these actions violate free speech protections and the principles of academic freedom?

The First Amendment protects from the government enacting laws that abridge freedom of speech, but offers no protection from the consequences of that speech. Nor is freedom of speech unqualified. One cannot yell “fire” in a crowded movie theater because of public safety concerns.

Universities regularly ban speakers from campus because they are deemed to be too controversial and risk inciting violence. These concerns, while not patently unreasonable, must be more than thinly veiled attempts to control students' thinking and squash debate. The professor’s lectern is not the minister’s pulpit and indoctrination should not be confused with education.

A recent survey finds that 80 percent of college students self-censor in their........

© The Hill