Thought Reform at the University of Tennessee

A fraternity at this public institution is being required to submit to an outrageous program of thought reform because of constitutionally protected expression. Last Halloween, five members of the fraternity — who, it seems, come from the town of Jackson, Tennessee — dressed up as the Jackson Five, wearing black facepaint for the part. There was, of course, a furor. FIRE drew attention to the University’s prior attempts to punish the students.

This is really despicable. Sometimes I despair of the chances for free expression at America’s colleges and universities… As my boss, Alan Charles Kors, has said, “A nation that does not educate in liberty will not long survive in liberty — and, indeed, will not even notice when it is lost.”