Regents To Adopt Free Speech Resolution, Set Up Punishment

University of Wisconsin System leaders are poised to adopt a policy that would punish students who disrupt speeches and presentations.

Under the policy up for a Board of Regents vote Friday, students accused of twice engaging in violent or other disorderly conduct that disrupts free expression of others would be suspended for at least a semester. Any student who disrupts free expression of others three times during the student’s period of enrollment would be expelled.

The policy comes as Republican lawmakers are considering a bill requiring that students who disrupt speeches and presentations be suspended or expelled. The bill comes as conservatives fear right-leaning speakers aren’t treated the same on campus as liberal presenters.