Should There Be Freedom Of Speech in Education?

In a landmark case, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) has settled with former student, Maggie DeJong, for $80,000 after allegedly violating her constitutional and civil rights based on her Christian beliefs. The case, handled by the Alliance Defending Freedom, involved allegations of unjust censorship and retaliation against DeJong following her expression of values on topics such as religion, politics, and COVID-19 regulations. The university has since committed to revising their policies and handbook to prevent similar incidents, a move commended by ADF counsel Mathew Hoffman, who highlighted the importance of diverse thought and speech in educational institutions.