Michael Hiltzik: How a right-wing group's proposed 'free speech' law aims to undermine free speech on campus

You've heard the mantra: Free speech is running for its life on America's university campuses. Restricted "free speech zones," speakers "disinvited" because their ideas might disturb students, idea-free "safe spaces" and "trigger warnings" - all work to narrow the range of thought our students are exposed to in precisely the places where the marketplace of ideas should be wide open.

Never mind that the evidence for this conclusion is inch-deep at best, based on a handful of high-profile incidents. That's enough to fuel a campaign by a far-right organization to promote state laws that would limit the authority of university administrators and faculty members to make judgments about what gets taught on their campuses and their classrooms, and punish students for raising their voices at protest rallies.

The model "Campus Free Speech Act" is a product of the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute.