Texas Students Sue UT System Over Law Restricting Campus Free Speech

A coalition of University of Texas students, represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Texas Senate Bill 2972, which imposes strict limits on free speech and protest activities on public university campuses. The law bans expressive activities, including protests, amplified sound, and certain gatherings, between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and during the last two weeks of the academic semester, which students and attorneys argue broadly restricts First Amendment rights and could impact activities such as prayer, music performances, student journalism, and political discussions. The legislation was enacted in response to 2024 pro-Palestinian protests at Texas campuses, which led to over 150 arrests and concerns about campus safety, with supporters claiming the law protects students and institutions from disruptive behavior. However, critics say the law grants campus administrators excessive authority to censor unpopular speech and contradicts earlier Texas laws that guaranteed more open protest rights. The lawsuit names key university officials and board members as defendants and seeks an injunction to prevent enforcement of these restrictions, emphasizing that constitutional free speech protections do not have time limits and should be upheld regardless of the hour or academic calendar. This legal challenge highlights ongoing tensions between campus safety and free expression rights in the context of politically charged demonstrations.