Virginia Tech bias response team receives favorable ruling from Fourth Circuit majority
Bias Reporting Systems
June 3, 2023
The Fourth Circuit majority has ruled in favor of Virginia Tech’s Bias Response Team, stating that it does not have a “chilling effect” on free speech. The organization Speech First, which protects free speech on college campuses, brought the lawsuit against Virginia Tech in 2021 to block the University’s biased response procedure. The procedure allows students to make anonymous reports to a group of Virginia Tech officials regarding students they believe are participating in biased actions. The reported student will then be asked to voluntarily meet with the group about why their views may be problematic. The response team does have the authority to refer conduct that may not be constitutionally protected to higher authorities.
