Universities Aren’t First Amendment Forums

The author argues modern First Amendment doctrine protects expression and assembly geared to democratic politics, not the university’s mission of truth via reasoned inquiry. He proposes allowing all reasoned arguments while excluding non‑rational expressive conduct and collective pressure tactics, enforced by neutral tribunals. He notes early American protections tied speech to responsibility, better fitting scholarly standards. — This reframes campus speech debates from rights maximalism to epistemic standards, guiding how universities design rules that protect inquiry without turning into political arenas.