9 times Campus Reform influenced campus policies in 2018

Campus Reform  reported on numerous instances of liberal bias and abuse on college campuses in 2018, and because of our reporting, universities across the country reversed course on some of the most egregious policies, decisions, events, and more.

Here’s a roundup of the top nine policy reversals that Campus Reform  influenced this year.

1. UWSP reverses discriminatory tutoring policy

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point tutoring center held a policy that offered free tutoring for low income, U.S. minorities, non-trads, and veterans,” while “all others” would be forced to pay the standard $9 per tutoring session. After a Campus Reform inquiry on the policy, a UWSP spokesperson said that the policy had been completely revamped.

2. University admin ‘regrets’ urging students to ‘speak against’ Trump’s policies

The vice provost for diversity and international affairs at the University of Louisville sent a community-wide email urging students to “speak against” some of the policies that President Donald Trump has proposed, as Campus Reform reported. In an email sent following the original call to take action against President Trump’s policies, the administrator said it was “not my intent” to alienate others while showing support for members of the campus community.

[RELATED: University admin ‘regrets’ urging students to ‘speak against’ Trump’s policies]

3. University revamps policy requiring student clubs to hand over social media passwords

A policy at Southern New Hampshire University made it “mandatory” for student organizations to hand over the login information to social media accounts. After Campus Reform asked the university for comment, the university backpedaled and said that it is “not a formal policy” but “rather a request to help ensure that pages were passed along to new leadership as students graduate and move on from the University.”

4. Vanderbilt changes event description accusing ‘white women’ of ‘fake allyship’

Vanderbilt University was set to hold a workshop titled “Fake Allyship and How White Women are Failing the Activist Struggle” which was originally supposed to hold reflections on “white fragility, radicalism, emotional labor, safe spaces, gaslighting, and...documented case studies from activist spaces.” However, following a request for comment from Campus Reform, the university scrubbed the title and changed it to “Performative Allyship: Make Sure You Can #dothework as an Ally.”

5. University reverses plan to turn computer lab into LGBT ‘safe space’

Santa Monica College originally had plans last November to renovate one of the school’s only computer labs and convert it into a “safe space for Undocumented Students, DACA students, LGBT community students.” After Campus Reform followed-up with the university in February, a spokesperson said that the plan was tabled to a committee of administrations, and said no work has been done.

[RELATED: University reverses plan to turn computer lab into LGBT ‘safe space’]

6. University rejects SJP demand to stop selling Sabra hummus

Students in the Swarthmore College Students for Justice Palestine demanded the university stop selling Sabra hummus products on campus because of their ties to Israel. The SJP chapter claims it is “morally unacceptable” for Sabra hummus to be sold on the Swarthmore campus. After Campus Reform’s reporting sparked national attention around the issue, the Swarthmore president announced that the university would continue selling the hummus brand, but offer “alternative hummus brands on campus.”

7. U of Miami decides not to require security fee for Charles Murray event

The University of Miami in Florida originally charged the school’s Federalist Society a $7,646 security fee for a Charles Murray speaking engagement. After multiple email exchanges with Campus Reform, a spokesperson for the school said they would not impose the security fee.

[RELATED: U of Miami decides not to require security fee for Charles Murray event]

8. Academic journal pulls article claiming ‘rape culture’ exists in dog parks

The Journal of Feminist Geography  publishedan article titled “Human reactions to rape culture and queer performativity at urban dog parks in Portland, Oregon,” which claimed that “rape culture” existed in Portland dog parks. After a Campus Reform investigation into the credentials of the author of the article, it was discovered that the author did not exist, and the academic article was retracted. 

Additionally, the Wall Street Journal  picked up Campus Reform’s reporting.

9. Montana Western University pulls ‘mean’ speech ban

The University of Montana Western’s Student Code of Conduct had a “Civility Standards” section, which banned speech that becomes “mean, nasty, or vindictive in spoken or printed or emailed words, facial expressions, or gestures.” After the policy was exposed by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and Campus Reform, the university removed the policy and said while it “looked” like a policy, it was “NOT policy.”

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