Hopefully, this new committee will devote itself to protecting free expression on campus.

Lawrence Journal World reports.

Spurred by events of past year, KU’s University Senate forms free speech committee

Over the past year, Kansas University faculty, students and staff have had countless conversations about sensitive and controversial things; racial discrimination and guns on campus top the list.

Hot debates have erupted over whether certain utterances and opinions are protected speech.

“The whole notion of how we interact with each other on this campus seemed at times challenged, at times strained,” said outgoing University Senate President Mike Williams, associate professor of journalism. “We are often challenged in how we are allowed to express ourselves freely.”

On Tuesday Williams suggested creating an ad hoc committee to research and, if deemed necessary, propose a freedom of speech and expression policy for KU. The University Senate Executive Committee unanimously approved the committee, which will form this summer and work throughout the upcoming academic year.

Calling the free exchange of ideas the “bedrock upon which academic freedom and the pursuit of knowledge are based,” Williams’ proposal said such a policy should guarantee campus is a safe environment for freedom of speech by all.