Student Spotlight: Harry Murphy
The New Title IX Reality: Where Hurt Feelings Outweigh Free Speech
“…any serious institution must prioritize free speech over the possibility of hurting someone’s feelings. America enshrines many rights to its people, but the most important by far is the right to free speech, which permits us to have open discussion.”
Name: Harry Murphy
School: Suffolk University, Senior
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Minor: Political Science
Now that the new Title IX rules are in effect in Massachusetts, has there been an impact on students’ ability to speak freely on your campus?
Unfortunately, Title IX has had a massive impact on the constitutionally-protected speech of college students across Massachusetts, and I hate to say that I think it’s gone entirely unnoticed. The broadened definition of discrimination under Biden’s new Title IX rules creates an environment where certain ideologies cannot be fairly discussed or debated— mainly because one side cannot express its honest beliefs without fear of retribution or punishment. This prejudiced outcome is underreported in the media, right wing or left wing.
You’ve been personally targeted and forced to attend school hearings regarding conservative comments you made on your Instagram page. Tell us about this experience. Do you think schools should have this much power over their students?
At Suffolk University, I am the President of a Turning Point USA chapter. While TPUSA is a non-partisan organization, we are the only right-of-center student group on campus. Being in deep blue Massachusetts, this is somewhat expected. However, I assumed that as an American, I had the right to free speech—but that hasn’t been my experience at Suffolk. In 2023, my executive board and I were dragged into a Title IX hearing for posting an Instagram story on our club page that was critical of the trans acceptance culture. Essentially, we shared a conversation thread on X (formerly Twitter) where Riley Gaines argued that trans “women” are not actually women.
As a result, we were forced to attend a hearing on the basis of “us[ing] the club social media account to post a derogatory message relating to transgender females.” We were also told that “This behavior may violate the Title IX Policy and/or other University policies.” Upon attending this hearing, we were told that IF the Biden Administration’s Title IX policy was the letter of the law, we would be charged with a Title IX infraction. It’s important to note that this was nearly a year BEFORE Biden’s Title IX policies went into effect across the country. We were also told that we were not allowed to make sarcastic comments about these sorts of topics. I then asked my administrators if I would be punished for saying or posting that “trans women aren’t women.” They couldn’t deliver a straight answer to me, which left us feeling like we couldn’t discuss this issue at all.
How has your Turning Point USA chapter been received on campus?
In my sophomore year, which was my first year as the President of my TPUSA chapter, my executive board and I worked tirelessly to recruit new members. We decided to hang up “Free Speech” posters all across campus. These posters literally only said “Free Speech” on them, as well as our contact and meeting information. Despite the simple message on our poster, nearly every single one was torn down or removed. There was another instance when a 38-year-old student screamed in the lobby of the school that “HARRY MURPHY IS A FASCIST!” As a libertarian-conservative who supports small government, I was quite puzzled by this personal accusation. Finally, last semester our entire executive board received a death threat in our Instagram messages. The Suffolk University Police Department eventually dealt with the threat, but you can see what we’re up against.
Do you believe the administration at Suffolk is fair in how it upholds its free speech policies across all groups and ideologies? Give us some examples.
I have mixed feelings on this issue. In my time as a student and as the President of my TPUSA chapter, we have dealt with quite the resistance from the student body here at Suffolk. Various groups of students have defamed our organization as well as some of our members, and the University has been quite helpful in defending our right to exist on campus. However, I think the University will now be emboldened to act against groups like mine under the banner of the new Title IX rules. Without intervention from the state of Massachusetts, school hearings like the one I endured in 2023 will prove more harmful for conservative students, and the consequences could have a lasting impact that extends beyond graduation.
Suffolk University is a great school, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities I have had as a student here, but any serious institution must prioritize free speech over the possibility of hurting someone’s feelings. The United States of America enshrines many rights to its people, but the most important by far is the right to free speech, which permits us to have open discussion. As uncomfortable, controversial or offensive as these discussions might be, our founders realized that protected speech is important to the preservation of the Republic— because without free speech in the marketplace of ideas, society cannot advance.
What advice would you have for a conservative student who is afraid to speak his or her mind because of the hostile environment and social consequences on campus?
As a conservative, you should never be afraid to express your opinions. I have been outspoken on political issues for close to a decade now, and although I have lost friendships, I have met some incredible people. I have made connections I would not have otherwise made, and I have discovered myself as a person. Don’t seek approval from somebody who you wouldn’t ask advice from, and don’t hide who you truly are to avoid offending people. You’ve seen what the Left claps for. You don’t want their approval.