At least two Colorado state lawmakers have contacted the University of Northern Colorado’s president, expressing concerns after reporting by Heat Street revealed that the Bias Response Team’s behavior had restricted free speech on campus over the past two semesters.
“It appears UNC leadership has decided that so-called ‘tolerance and diversity’ is justification for intolerance and intimidation,” wrote Colorado Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley, on Wednesday. “I am referring to the recent poster campaign, your chilling ‘Bias Response Team,’ and your willingness to censor free speech on campus.”
Heat Street first broke news of University of Northern Colorado’s Bias Response Team last month, and the story was picked up by local newspapers, as well as national media outlets including Fox News, the New York Post and Washington Examiner.
The university’s president, Kay Norton, will be sending an open letter to the campus, addressing concerns about the Bias Response Team and its censorship of free speech, staff said.
Earlier this week, Norton told the Greeley Tribune that she would require the Bias Response Team to undergo more training before the next semester begins, adding, “I think, perhaps, free expression was not considered as much as it should have been, and we’re going to attend to that.”
Norton also said it was “completely inappropriate” when the Bias Response Team asked two professors to change their lessons and teaching style. In both cases, students had complained they were offended after their professors had asked them to consider opposing viewpoints and debate social issues including gay and transgender rights.
Cooke said that, as a member of the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee, “I am concerned about and question the legality of your attempt to regulate speech on the campus of a publicly funded institution of higher learning.”
He asked Norton to provide documentation showing how the Bias Response Team paid for 680 #languagematters posters it hung on campus, warning students against so-called offensive language including “hey guys” and “crazy.”
The Greeley senator also asked the University of Northern Colorado to provide documentation showing the full cost of three university positions: a vice president of community and climate, an equity officer, and an assistant vice president for equity and inclusion.
More than 100 public colleges and universities have Bias Response Teams or similar structures for students to report alleged bias, discrimination or offense. Heat Street will continue to report on them.
— Jillian Kay Melchior writes for Heat Street and is a fellow for the Steamboat Institute and the Independent Women’s Forum.
