Cohen v. San Bernardino Valley College The Scope of.doc

Journal of College and University Law Summer, 1998 *1 COHEN V. SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY COLLEGE: THE SCOPE OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS AND IN-CLASS SPEECH Sonya G. Smith [FNa1] Copyright ? 1998 National Association of College University Attorneys; Sonya G. Smith I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 2 II. THE POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION: SECURING THE RIGHTS OF FACULTY AND STUDENTS ............................................................ 7 A. A Brief Look: Encroachments upon the Modern Postsecondary Institution and Academic Freedom .......................... 7 B. Restrictions on Academic Freedom in an Educational Setting . 11 C. The Clash Between Academic Freedom and Campus Hostile Environment Policies: cohen v. San Bernardino Valley College .................................................. 14 D. The District Courts and the 9th Circuits Analysis of Cohen .................................................... 16 III. THE pICKERING-CONNICK TEST: THE PUBLIC CONCERN DOCTRINE IN AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................ 17 A. Balancing A States Efficiency Interest Against A Public Employees Right to Free Speech .......................... 18 B. Rethinking the pickering-Connick Test in An Educational Setting .................................................. 23 1. The First Circuit: mailloux v. Kiley ......................... 24 2. The First Circuit: ward v. Hickey ........................ 25