FSFC Projects
FSFC is working together with the State Senate and State Assemble, as well as other Freedom of Speech Organizations to protect and preserve constitutional rights on Wisconsin Campuses.
UW System releases results of free speech survey- February 2023
“The 97-page report summarizing the survey results was released Wednesday afternoon.
The survey sparked controversy when it was first announced in 2021 as some said it wouldn't be useful. It was originally scheduled to go out to students last spring, but was postponed until the fall 2022 semester.
It asked students from each UW System campus about free speech issues facing their communities, from questions about their familiarity with the first amendment to their comfort level with sharing opinions in class and their thoughts on having controversial speakers on campus.”
Higher education needs an intervention. JUNE 22, 2022
“Perhaps it should be no surprise, then, that college graduates today lack the skills needed to be effective in the workforce. One chief human resource officer recently lamented the "lack of creative problem-solving" among new college graduates. According to another report , 60% of businesses surveyed claimed that today’s college graduates lack critical thinking skills, 56% said graduates lack attention to detail, 44% said they do not write well, and 39% reported that they cannot speak publicly. Universities do not own all these problems, but they may be making them worse.”
“A well-functioning higher education system can help people of all races, all socioeconomic backgrounds, and all beliefs. Education really is the vehicle to advancement. But we must take care that we are good stewards of it. The insularity and ideological homogeneity of universities today are strangling the virtue of higher education and leaving us with its vices. We need to protect higher education and help it meet its potential.” By Board member and Professor Ryan J. Owens
SURVEY SAYS: RADICAL INDOCTRINATION - June 1st, 2022
Interestingly, while the system stands by equity and inclusion surveys, it has had little tolerance for a student survey on First Amendment rights.
The privately funded questionnaire titled “Student Perceptions of their First Amendment Free Speech Rights, Viewpoint Diversity, and Self-Censorship,” was supposed to go out earlier this spring. But then University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Jim Henderson complained about the content and origin of the survey and resigned his post. He didn’t like that the UW System didn’t back him in his opposition to the questionnaire, financed by donations from the Menard Center “from the family of Wisconsin billionaire John Menard,” as Wisconsin Public Radio reported.
The UW System’s failure to defend the survey led to its postponement until this fall.
“Student free speech survey that led to UW-Whitewater chancellor resignation delayed” -April 7, 2022
“The survey, titled "Student Perceptions of their First Amendment Free Speech Rights, Viewpoint Diversity, and Self-Censorship," has been in the works for months, and was scheduled to be sent out Thursday. The survey didn't become public until the day after UW-Whitewater interim Chancellor Jim Henderson resigned, citing a lack of support from UW System leadership.”
“State Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville, said he and others complained to the UW System about the initial delay. Shiell told WPR he has received messages from lawmakers indicating they would like the survey to be issued in this spring.
"But there wasn't, you know, some kind of deal between us or pressure put on," Sheill said.
The teachers union AFT-Wisconsin applauded the announcement to delay the survey until the fall.”
“UW System to survey all students about campus free speech, the s
urvey is meant to gather data to 'inform discussions about potential changes to policy or law” - April 5th, 2022
“A copy of the survey provided to Wisconsin Public Radio includes questions about things like: their opinions on diversity; whether giving voice to unpopular or offensive viewpoints encourages healthy academic dialogue; and whether they have felt pressured by a professor to agree with a specific political or ideological opinion discussed in class.”
SENATE COMMITTEE ON UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES Committee Report May 2021
Several FSFC Board members, Including the late Professor John McAdams, made a presentation before the Senate Committee, a summary can be found between pages 11 and 17 in the committee’s 97 page report. This report has shocking findings about how freedom of speech is being attacked on campuses across Wisconsin and is proposing new laws be put in place to hold campus administrators liable for damages for violating the 1st Amendment of students and faculty members.