Syracuse U Expels Student for Facebook Speech, Violating Free Speech Promises
Syracuse University's School of Education has expelled a graduate student, Matthew Werenczak, from its teaching program. The expulsion follows Werenczak's complaint on Facebook about a racially charged comment made by a community leader. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has criticized the university's actions, stating it violates promises of free speech and due process.
The incident began when a community leader suggested that student teachers should come from historically black colleges instead of Syracuse University. Werenczak, who is white, expressed his disagreement on Facebook. Instead of addressing the comment, the university expelled Werenczak from the teaching program. He was required to complete a course on cultural diversity, write a reflective paper, and seek counseling for 'anger management' issues to avoid expulsion. Notably, Werenczak was not charged with any infraction of Syracuse's rules and did not receive a disciplinary hearing before his expulsion.
This is not an isolated incident. In 2010, a law student faced expulsion for a fake-news parody blog. FIRE has criticized Syracuse University for its poor record on free speech and due process. The university's Student Handbook promises freedom of speech and encourages the expression of dissent, which it violated in Werenczak's case. FIRE has called on Syracuse University to honor its promises in this matter.
Syracuse University's School of Education has expelled Matthew Werenczak for expressing his opinion on Facebook. Despite not violating any rules, Werenczak was not given a fair process and was punished for exercising his right to free speech. FIRE has urged the university to uphold its commitments to free speech and due process in this case.
