IN THE NEWS a compilation of Steamboat Institute Press Coverage 2019 Friends, The Steamboat Institute’s mission of defending the nation’s first principles has been amplified by a steady drumbeat of state and national press coverage. This has allowed our message to echo far beyond the walls of our events, reaching exponentially more people than we could fit in even the largest conference rooms or auditoriums. This booklet provides a sampling of this media presence over 2019. I am proud to say it is on par or even exceeds the presence of some of the biggest and most well-established state think tanks. In addition to news coverage, this booklet contains a stream of op-eds I have written for state and local publications which allows us to put forth a fuller and more persuasive case for free minds and free markets. This booklet only contains our print media coverage. The Steamboat Institute has also been regularly featured on Colorado radio stations (with reach throughout the Rocky Mountain region), and our latest Freedom Conference and Campus Liberty Tour were covered by C-SPAN. Please take a moment to browse through this booklet to gain a deeper understanding of The Steamboat Institute’s priorities, scope, and influence on the public debate we care so much about. Jennifer Schubert-Akin Chairman, CEO and Co-founder • Also ran in the Orange County Register, Santa Clarita Valley Signal, Long Beach Press Telegram, San Bernardino Sun, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Daily Breeze, The Daily Bulletin, The Pasadena Star News, Redland Daily Facts, Steamboat Pilot, and Alva Review-Courier The fight for free speech on college campuses January 21, 2019 By JENNIFER SCHUBERT AKIN Last month, California free and open debate. Free speech on campus is Rep. Ted Lieu said, “I Across the country, especially important would love to be able to colleges have instituted because this is where the regulate the content of speech codes, free speech next generation of business speech; the First zones, prohibitions against and political leaders are Amendment prevents me perceived verbal slights forming their opinions and from doing so.” known as “micro- ideas. In order to make aggressions,” among a these opinions robust and This remarkable statement slew of other speech advance human is just the latest in a string controls. knowledge, a competitive of attacks against free marketplace of ideas — speech by California Last month, the unencumbered by controls policymakers. Last year, Foundation for Individual — must exist to test and the state legislature Rights in Education challenge them. introduced a bill to released a report finding regulate “fake news” on that 90 percent of public Free speech is not only social media and ban and private higher necessary to advance books that counseled education institutions in human knowledge but also against gender the U.S. restrict the speech to protect against reassignment surgery. In of their faculty and recurrently popular, yet addition, its law requiring students. And last year, a dangerous, arguments. pregnancy centers to Gallup/Knight Foundation How are students — and advertise abortion services poll found that 61 percent future generations — was struck down by the of college students believe supposed to be able to U.S. Supreme Court. that the climate on their reason against, for campus “prevents some instance, tribalism or The threat to free speech is students from expressing eugenics unless they are greatest on college their views.” exposed to them? campuses, which are supposed to be places of 1 Philosopher John Stuart and creativity could itself Harvard Law professor Mill said it best when he be subject to government Alan Dershowitz and argued that without free regulations if free speech University of Pennsylvania debate, people cling to protections disappear. law professor Amy Wax, their opinions like they will further this case for hold on to their prejudices, Fortunately, there has been free speech on campus at a believing them to be right a recent backlash against public event at Pepperdine but not really campus speech controls. University. In addition to understanding why, or ever More than 50 colleges, their persuasive arguments, seriously considering that including several in they can draw on their they might be wrong. “He California, have adopted personal experiences, who knows only his own the so-called “Chicago being on the receiving end side of the case,” argued Statement” — produced by of attempts to stifle their Mill, “knows little of that.” the Committee on Freedom speech. of Expression at the Unsurprisingly, free University of Chicago — This free speech fight will speech controls seem to be guaranteeing “all members be victorious when the impeding learning on of the University overwhelming majority of campus. Several recent community the broadest college campuses commit studies have found most possible latitude to speak, to preserving free speech students show little-to-no write, listen, challenge, and and when business and improvement in analytical learn.” It codifies that “it is political leaders can make reasoning, critical thinking, not the proper role of the the case for it beyond problem solving, and University to attempt to simply falling back on the writing skills over the shield individuals from First Amendment as a course of their college ideas and opinions they crutch — or a roadblock. studies. find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even Jennifer Schubert-Akin is Ironically, the biggest deeply offensive.” the Chairman and CEO of proponents of campus The Steamboat Institute. speech controls are On January 31st, two of students and faculty in the the nation’s leading free liberal arts, whose writing speech proponents, 2 Controversial Debate Comes to Campus JANUARY 31, 2019 BY ASHLEY MOWREADER Freedom of speech is zones,'” according to the not just for conservative guaranteed for Americans Pepperdine Public Policy people or for people of under the Bill of Rights, website. faith, but to encourage all but are college campuses Pete Peterson, the dean of people to feel free to share restricting that right? This the School of Public their ideas and beliefs. is the question the School Policy, said in a phone of Public Policy’s forum interview this event is part “As a policy school, we’re seeks to address. of a larger goal of the preparing people to go into School of Public Policy to politics, and that’s a pretty “Are American College encourage viewpoint rough field these days,” Campuses ‘Free Speech’ diversity. Peterson said. “But at the Zones?” will take place same time, I think if we Thursday Jan. 31 through “This is the concept of, can prepare people both in Pepperdine’s School of whether in campus the classroom and through Public Policy, partnering speakers, or academic events like this to talk with Steamboat Institute. hiring or just in what in about contentious issues in The event will be a students can say in the a civil way, frankly, that’s discussion between classroom, there’s a the only way we’re going University of Pennsylvania respect for diversity in to solve the biggest Law School Professor opinion,” Peterson said. challenges that are facing Amy Wax and Harvard “We’re hoping it’s another the country and our Law School Professor step in showing how communities.” Alan Dershowitz. people, even at different Professor Robert Kaufman parts of the political This is not the first time of the Pepperdine School spectrum, can agree on the Pepperdine has hosted of Public Policy will importance of the freedom controversial speakers. In moderate the event. to express your opinion April, conservative and to do it in a civil way. political commentator and “This discussion will “ writer Ben Shapiro spoke provide insight from about acceptable political different points of view as Peterson said the School of discourse and to whether American Public Policy also wants to institutionalized racism. campuses are ‘free speech show viewpoint diversity The sold-out event caused 3 a stir on campus and Shapiro, but both Wax and persuasions to talk about prompted a discussion Dershowitz are known as important issues in civil between club leaders, prominent figures in this ways. The university has students and faculty on debate. that phrase, ‘convicted how to best create a Peterson said there has civility,’ and I think [the welcoming and respectful been little to no pushback event] is going to be an atmosphere. from this event however, evening of how we which is encouraging to demonstrate and witness Shapiro said this meeting him, as it shows a general convicted civility right was a “bitch-fest,” which support. before us.” he later partially retracted and said, “I apologize for The event is not designed The event will take place calling it a bitch-fest if it for a particular audience at 7 p.m. in Smothers was not, in fact, a bitch- but rather to make a space Theatre. The event is free fest.” People who for open and honest to the public and supported or opposed deliberation and refreshments will be Shapiro’s views attended disagreement, Peterson served after. The speakers the event and were allowed said. will be selling their books to question Shapiro in a and participating in a book question and answer “These are two brilliant signing as well. Those session. people [and so] you’re interested in attending can going to hear extremely register on the Public “Are American College thoughtful opinions,” Policy website or for more Campuses ‘Free Speech’ Peterson said. “We need to information can e-mail Zones?” may not be as find opportunity for people [email protected] controversial as hosting of different political u or call 310-506-7490. 4 Law professors opine on state of free speech during stop at Pepperdine February 7, 2019 By Barbara Burke The right to free speech is a central tenet of to ancient Greece and the a cornerstone of the First democracy for millennia, Magna Carta.