Looking To Tamp Down Controversy, Yale Law School Restricts Access to Free Speech Panel

In March 2022, Yale Law School will host hundreds of students. disrupted Kristen Waggoner was part of a panel that included conservative lawyer Kristen Waggoner. She has argued religious liberty cases in front of the Supreme Court and argued that her presence was necessary. “slap in the face” To “queer students.” Yale’s response to this incident left it with eggs on its face. Although the protest clearly violated Yale’s freedom speech policies which prohibit protesters from disrupting speakers, no student was disciplined.

Waggoner will be returning to Yale Law this time for a second talk. Administrators are not leaving anything to chance this time. They have banned the press and any person without a Yale Law School ID from the event, even undergraduate students. They also want to ban covert cell phone recordings that were able to pick up audio from last year’s disruption. It is unclear whether media ban includes the Yale Daily NewsYale’s flagship student newspaper, whose editor, Lucy Hodgman didn’t respond to a request.

The Federalist Society will host the event at noon on Tuesday. It will also feature Nadine Strassen, the first female president for the American Civil Liberties Union. Yale’s draconian measures don’t sit well with her. She is calling Yale’s decision not to ban the press “unacceptable.” “unjustifiable,” The telling Washington Free Beacon, “For an event that is discussing important First Amendment issues—and is designed to illustrate Yale Law School’s announced recommitment to free speech—it is sadly ironic that elementary freedom of speech principles are being violated.”

Waggoner and Strossen are set to discuss a pending Supreme Court case about the First Amendment—Waggoner argued the case last month—on which the two politically opposed women largely agree. Two months after law school issued a notification, the event will be held. statement Reaffirming its commitment towards free speech, it is widely regarded as a revival of Waggoner’s tumultuous talk last year.

“It’s one thing to take steps to protect against physical disruption,” Strossen said. “But is there any evidence that members of the press were responsible for the disruptive protest in the past?” Waggoner has not responded to a request for comments.

These restrictions indicate that administrators want to avoid a repeat last year’s drama, which caused a PR nightmare for the school. video Audio and was reported by the Free Beacon. Heather Gerken, Yale Law School Dean, is also one of them