Saint Louis University hides behind its tax exempt status as a reason not to allow political discourse on campus. The FIRE is calling them out on it.

Saint Louis University Kicks Political Speech Off Campus

ST. LOUIS, April 9, 2014—Last fall, Saint Louis University (SLU) demanded a student group take an event featuring former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown off campus. SLU justified its wrongful decision to prevent Brown from appearing on campus out of misguided concerns for its tax-exempt status. With the 2014 midterm elections on the horizon, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) calls on SLU to once and for all stop using this excuse to suppress political speech on campus.

“For far too long, colleges and universities have used flimsy tax-exemption concerns to censor political dialogue on campus, even when it’s clear that such expression poses no threat to the institution whatsoever,” said Azhar Majeed, director of FIRE’s Individual Rights Education Program. “With the 2014 election season on the way, the time is now for SLU and universities nationwide to stop obstructing political debate and discussion.”

The SLU College Republicans sought to bring Senator Brown to campus for a speaking event in October 2013. However, SLU administrators informed the group that because SLU considered Brown a potential candidate for public office, his speech could not take place on campus. An SLU spokesperson later stated, “Since Scott Brown has made comments about possibly running for office … the IRS would consider him as a candidate—thus it being in conflict with our tax-exempt status.”