NW Valley Times

State Rep. Austin Smith (R-Dist. 29) called on the Arizona Board of Regents to be responsible for investigating cases of free speech rights infringements on the campus of Arizona State University (ASU). The request comes after an ASU administrator's recent claim that she was suppressed for bringing in conservative speakers.

“Free speech is paramount to the future of our Republic,” Smith said in a June 21 press release. “Higher education taxpayer-funded universities must be held to a higher standard regarding the First Amendment. I am disturbed that this trend continues to happen at Arizona State University. I have asked the Regents to do their job and seek answers immediately from Arizona State administrators.”

Ann Atkinson, executive director of the T.W. Lewis Center for Personal Development at the Barrett Honors College at ASU, posted an opinion piece on the Wall Street Journal claiming that she was terminated by the university because she was supportive of conservative beliefs and speakers, a recent 12News report said. The university responded to the allegations by saying that funding for the four-year project at T.W. Lewis would not extend past June 30 because of a decision by donors. Although Atkinson’s position would end with the project, the university said she could apply for another position.

The T.W. Lewis Foundation, donor to the program at Barrett Honors College, is also a donor to several conservative groups across the state; 12News said. The foundation started the program at Barrett four years ago with a $2.5 million gift. They have also made contributions to Prager University and Turning Point USA.

In February of this year, an event arranged by Atkinson to be hosted at the Honors College featured high-profile conservative speakers and drew the ire of three dozen university staff members who condemned the event, saying that it was full of hate. The event was not canceled and was held peacefully without incident.

Smith wrote a letter to the Arizona Board of Regents to request they uphold the constitutional rights of all staff and students at ASU.

“I am writing in my official capacity to express my concern regarding the disturbing trend of apparent free speech suppression at campuses in your charge,” Smith said in the letter. “I respectfully request the Regents to investigate ASU's actions and provide me with a response no later than July 21, 2023.”

The letter detailed the Lewis speaker event and an earlier incident in which a student was arrested for handing out copies of the Constitution on campus.