A new social media policy passed by the Kansas Board of Regents is drawing fire. Statements or posts that would violate the policy include comments that are judged not to be in the best interest of a state university or that interfere with the operations of Board of Regents schools. Some teaching faculty in Kansas have condemned the new policy, along with national higher education organizations. The American Association of University Professors is calling it a “gross violation” of academic freedom. Fred Logan is the chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. When the policy was passed last week, Logan said the board's discussion of the issue would be ongoing.
Logan says the policy is crafted to address statements that courts would consider First Amendment exceptions. He calls it narrowly drawn to protect First Amendment rights, but also says that the policy points out that employees also have a responsibility to their employer.