A new bill introduced by Del. Laura Kimble (R-Harrison, 71) would strengthen free speech rights for students at West Virginia’s public colleges and universities.
The bill, called the “Forming Open and Robust University Minds” Act, or FORUM, aims to make sure students can speak freely on campus without being charged extra fees because of their views or the views of guest speakers they invite.
The bill would also require colleges to post their free speech policies on their websites and share them with students during orientation. In addition, schools would need to train staff — including campus police, professors, and dorm officials — about those policies so they understand how to support free expression.
The proposal is part of a wider push across the country to protect free speech on college campuses.
