Maggie DeJong Speaks to Newsmax about Colleges’ Ability to Impose Bans on Students with Differing Views
A student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has sued the college, claiming that her free speech was censored during a classroom discussion on race, Marxism, and other topics. Maggie DeJong, the student, stated in an interview with “National Report” that schools can ban students from fully engaging if they have different views. DeJong was enrolled in a three-year graduate program for art therapy and counseling. She participated in classroom discussions on various contentious issues and believed it was a marketplace of ideas. However, she received three no-contact orders that were essentially restraining orders, with no violation of any rule or policy. DeJong questioned the topics discussed, such as Marxism and critical race theory, but was concerned that students could be banned from engaging in classroom discussions for expressing different views. In a settlement between the university and the Alliance Defending Freedom, the university will pay $80,000, and three professors will receive training on free speech. The university will also revise its policies to ensure that students with differing views are welcome in the art therapy program.
