As the problem of censorship and punishment for people who say things that upset the “progressives” has grown over the last several decades, some states have taken measures to protect it.

In today’s Martin Center article, Chris West looks at those efforts and concludes that North Carolina has done the best. He writes:

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has meticulously documented the implementation of campus free-speech legislation across the nation. Among these initiatives, North Carolina’s House Bill 527 stands as a model of comprehensive protection for academic freedom by supporting free-speech for all students and faculty, regardless of their political identity. Passed in 2017, the law also promotes intellectual diversity on campus and sets an expectation for intellectual rigor and debate in our state-supported higher-education system.

Some states that have moved to protect campus free speech have enacted weak laws, such as Arizona, where officials are allowed to stifle speech if they say there’s a “compelling governmental interest” in doing so. That’s vague and provides cover for administrators who want to take sides.

Free speech legislation has been introduced by Republicans in some “blue” states, but the bills have little or no chance of enactment. That’s too bad. As West observes:

The need for free speech and open dialogue on campus is not a “conservative” or “liberal” issue. Likewise, the push for campus free-speech legislation should transcend traditional political divisions and binaries. This is the case despite the (perhaps) well-intended but (certainly) unhelpful misconceptions of those who have advocated for speech restrictions from the left, masking their demands in the language of inclusivity. Free speech is itself the best way to promote diversity on campus.

He’s right.