Two Republican Oklahoma lawmakers watched President Trump signed an executive order tying research funding to universities’ compliance with the First Amendment.
Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Mark Lepak were invited because they co-authored a bill prohibiting Oklahoma public colleges and universities from designating specific areas for public expression. Daniels says free speech is disappearing from campuses.
"It’s kind of like putting the frog in the cold water on the stove. As it slowly heats up and you erode free speech by trying to protect people’s safety or their feelings, after awhile, you’ve actually eroded it to the point that it doesn’t exist," Daniels said.
Senate Bill 361 awaits a House committee hearing. Daniels says higher education officials should welcome it.
"I consider [SB361] a defense for college administrators who find people wanting to stop others’ free speech, and they can say, 'Look, here we have it, right here. This is what it is and what it isn’t when you’re on this college campus,'" Daniels said.
Daniels said free speech is shouldn't be subject to efforts to protect students from views they don’t agree with.
"If their opportunity to learn and engage in the free exchange of ideas, which the First Amendment preserves, protects, then they’re essentially losing the benefit of their education," Daniels said.
Such measures are often backed by groups claiming universities disproportionately silence conservatives.