Assembly Passes Republican-Backed Bill for Penalties for Censorship at UW-Campuses

Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 -- 8:00 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) Assembly Republicans approved a measure on Tuesday that would penalize Universities of Wisconsin colleges for violating free speech.

The Assembly on Tuesday approved a bill which punishes UW colleges for violating free speech. Pleasant Prairie Republican Amanda Nedweski said liberals have been preventing conservative voices from speaking out on campuses.

"Increased campus trends of using tactics such as the heckler's veto, disinvitation, and differences of fees for security for speakers threaten our commitment to the Wisconsin Idea."

But Eau Claire Democrat Jodi Emerson said Republicans wouldn't have brought this bill to the floor if it was the other way around. "Will you fight as hard to make sure that voices you oppose are heard on campuses? Or are you only fighting to make sure that the voices you agree with are heard on campus?"

Nedweski said censorship of conservative voices has caused enrollment to go down. "They don't want to invest small fortunes into echo chambers of narrow groupthink that will not only keep them in the dark, but will also not help them down a successful career path."

Emerson said the bill would silence opposing views. "People are going to be so afraid of violating a statute that they won't speak up, they won't counter protest."

Under the bill, any campus that violates free speech twice in five years will get their tuition frozen. Governor Tony Evers is unlikely to sign the bill if it passes the Senate.

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