Louisiana
Louisiana Tech University recognized for efforts to protect student free speech
RUSTON, La. (KNOE) – The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) gave Louisiana Tech University a “green light” rating, making it one of only two universities in Louisiana and one of 65 institutions nationwide to receive such recognition from the organization.
A green light rating means FIRE has found no written policies that have serious potential to threaten student free speech practices.
Louisiana Tech had a red light rating only one year ago during the summer of 2023, but that quickly changed after FIRE notified the university of what an analysis of its policies found. That winter, Louisiana Tech moved to a yellow light rating when it removed a sexual misconduct provision from its student handbook. FIRE and Louisiana Tech continued to work together and have revised 11 policies in the first quarter of 2024.
“Louisiana Tech, with its commitment to sharing knowledge, expanding ideas, and pursuing discovery, must also provide an environment that upholds free expression in its broadest sense,” said Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson. “A culture of inquiry and informed argument generates lasting ideas. We appreciate FIRE’s partnership in evaluating our policies to ensure we can meet this ideal we have for our community at large.”
Changes to Louisiana Tech policies include allowing students to decorate their rooms with no restrictions on the content of decorations and allowing student organizations to display signs in university buildings regardless of viewpoints unless the sign violates the law or other university policies. The university also has a bulletin board where students can post without prior approval.
“The ability to post without administrative approval in at least one area on campus is absolutely critical to a healthy campus climate for free expression,” said FIRE Senior Program Officer Mary Griffin. “At a time when other institutions are sharply limiting student expression by censoring unpopular views, Tech’s policy revisions signal to its community that its campus is a place to engage in robust dialogue on the issues of the day.”
FIRE and the University of Louisiana System, which Louisiana Tech is a part of, have worked together for two years to protect students’ free speech. FIRE works with other universities nationwide, free of charge, to revise policies to ensure institutions meet First Amendment standards.
For more information about FIRE and what the organization does, contact FIRE’s campus Policy Reform team at speechcodes@thefire.org.
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Louisiana
Behind the Curtain: How Louisiana’s Parole System and Courts Shape Who Goes Free | The Lens
This week on Behind The Lens, the public gets a rare look inside one of the most powerful and least understood parts of Louisiana’s criminal justice system: the parole process.
In Louisiana, Parole Board hearings are sometimes held in public, offering families, victims, attorneys, advocates, and reporters an opportunity to witness how decisions are made about who is granted freedom and who remains incarcerated. But those hearings reveal more than individual cases. They expose the broader tensions shaping punishment, rehabilitation, public safety, and political pressure across the state.
Reporters Bernard Smith and Gus Bennett join editor Katy Reckdahl to examine how parole decisions are influenced not only by testimony inside the hearing room, but also by a growing wave of legal and political changes moving through Louisiana’s courts and legislature. From rulings connected to the Louisiana Supreme Court to election season politics and criminal justice reforms, the episode explores how policy decisions made at the highest levels can directly affect incarcerated people, victims’ families, prosecutors, and entire communities.
The discussion also breaks down how recent state actions involving sentencing, parole eligibility, election dynamics, and judicial oversight are reshaping Louisiana’s criminal justice landscape in real time. Together, the team examines the human consequences behind those decisions and what they reveal about accountability, power, and transparency inside the system.
Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music “Fading Prospects” by Podington Bear (soundofpicture.com)
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Louisiana
Special Olympics Mississippi moves state games to Louisiana, holds swimming events in-state
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — Special Olympics Mississippi will hold its State Summer Games May 22–24 at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, with swimming competitions continuing to take place in Mississippi.
Officials with the Special Olympics said the games were moved from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi to Louisiana because of security concerns.
“When they canceled the state games this year, it made it a little bit rough on some of the athletes, but they continued to train,” Sharon Patterson, Director for Area 3, said.
The swimming competitions will take place in Mississippi because Louisiana does not include swimming in its events. Two swimming events are scheduled for May 9, one in Tupelo and another at the Natatorium in Biloxi.
A torch run began in North Mississippi on Monday and will arrive in Bay St. Louis on Thursday.
“It’s a run, walk, or roll because we have wheelchairs in there as well,” Patterson said.
On Friday, the torch run will move through Pass Christian and travel along Highway 90, with law enforcement officers from each city carrying the torch through their jurisdictions.
The run will conclude at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, where the Biloxi Shuckers are sponsoring a celebration featuring the lighting of the cauldron. A special athlete will sing the “Star-Spangled Banner,” lead the pledge and recite the oath.
Special Olympics Mississippi includes nearly 20 areas across the state. Each area holds games to qualify athletes for the state games.
The organization will also send 126 athletes to the USA Games in Minnesota in June. The national competition occurs every four years.
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