Mohave Today

Senator Anthony Kern (R-AZ) attended the second hearing on free speech conducted by the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Freedom of Expression at Arizona’s Public Universities, a session in which no Democrats were present. The hearing aimed to address ongoing concerns about freedom of speech within public universities in Arizona.

"Great work today at Senate hearing on 'Free Speech' (??) at Arizona State Universities!! Special gift' - none of the Arizona Senate Democrats showed up :)", said Anthony Kern.

The committee, tasked with probing free speech issues, comprises both Senate and House members. The Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Freedom of Expression at Arizona’s Public Universities, consisting of both Senate and House members, including Smith, Rep. Lorena Austin (D-AZ), Rep. Beverly Pingerelli (R-AZ), Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-AZ), and co-chaired by Rep. Quang H Nguyen (R-AZ) and Sen. Anthony Kern (R-AZ), convened for its second hearing on free speech at Arizona State University (ASU) on Nov. 27. No Democratic members were present at the meeting, stating, "The last time the Senate and House Democratic Caucuses joined this 'free speech' committee on July 18, it unnecessarily lasted five hours with no discernable value to the public," according to a press release from Arizona House Democrats.

Earlier this year, an incident caused concerns leading to the establishment of this committee. Established earlier this year, the Committee aimed to examine freedom of speech at ASU following allegations that the university withdrew funding from the T.W. Lewis Center due to a conservative event on campus, resulting in the center's closure and job losses, including that of the executive director, Ann Atkinson. Atkinson organized the event at the Barrett Honors College, featuring speakers Charlie Kirk and Dennis Prager, known for their conservative viewpoints, according to 12 News.

In response to these allegations, the University conducted a comprehensive investigation. A report by the University, released in September, states that an extensive investigation, in which the University "reviewed thousands of documents including emails, policies and websites and gathered information from university employees involved" found no wrongdoing by the college. The review states that the University "did not find that any faculty members violated ASU policy with their actions in the classroom, did not find that university or Barrett administrators censored speech or interfered with advertising or attendance, and found no evidence that any of the speakers at the event were prohibited from speaking freely", according to the 75 page report.

Amid these issues surrounding freedom of speech at ASU, recent events have sparked further controversy. Recent incidents have heightened dissatisfaction among conservative lawmakers with the university, particularly the pro-Hamas rallies organized by the ASU chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) in support of Palestine. The university was scheduled to host an event titled "Palestine is an American Issue," hosted by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group. However, the event, featuring Rep. Rashida Harbi Tlaib (D-MI), was ultimately canceled due to protests, according to the New York Post.

The sentiments expressed during these discussions reveal underlying tensions. "You don't see any member of this group up here calling for the destruction of liberal groups on campus," said Rep. Austin Smith (R-AZ) during the hearing, according to footage posted to platform X. "I know plenty of Democrats in this body call us fascists and right-wing extremists, as they do other college students that are conservative. Shame on the entire board of regents, Michael Crow, for their activity to condemn other conservative students but not students for justice in Palestine. That's the state of public higher education in the state of Arizona and across the country. Moms and dads, you are playing Russian roulette with your children's future."