“Those of us who are the organizers behind it are somewhat startled, and a little bit disappointed.”

FIRE reports.

College Trustees Reject Free Speech Statement Approved by Franklin & Marshall Faculty Council

When it comes to free speech at Franklin & Marshall College (F&M), there’s good news and there’s bad news.
The good news is that the faculty council adopted a version of the University of Chicago’s exemplary statement on campus free expression last semester. F&M becomes the 13th institution at which a faculty body or the administration itself has endorsed a version of the Chicago Statement since FIRE endorsed it in January of 2015 as the gold standard for campus commitments to free speech.

The bad news is that F&M’s board of trustees says the college itself will not commit to such a strong statement in favor of free speech, citing “legal” concerns and expressing worry over the “delicate balance” involving “uninhibited but still respectful exchange of ideas.”