Free Republic

A Missouri high school that suspended a student for making critical comments about Islamic extremism says he’s not allowed to appeal the finding of wrongdoing. Senior Alex Lonsdale, a member of Liberty High’s nationally ranked debate club, says he was just trying to have a friendly debate. During his free period Oct. 17 at the public school near Kansas City, Lonsdale joined a spontaneous conversation among acquaintances about the nature of Islam.

To Create "Hostile" Atmosphere Brenda Smith-Lezama, vice president of the Missouri Students Association, appeared on MSNBC Tuesday afternoon to express her disdain at people using their First Amendment rights to create a "hostile" and "unsafe" learning environment. Smith-Lezama advocated for a safe space for "healing" rather than "experiencing a lot of hate." MSNBC host Thomas Roberts asked Smith-Lezama to respond to a professor who "complained" universities are becoming intolerant of opposing views. "One professor complained universities are becoming places of prohibition," Roberts said. "What's your feeling? Do you believe that's a place we are heading for American campuses now? "...

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel shared a message of support for the Tigers' players of color that are choosing to strike until university president Tim Wolfe either resigns or is removed from his post. "The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players," Pinkel wrote on Twitter, adding the #ConcernedStudent1950 hashtag to the message. These Tigers started their protest on the heels of increased racial tensions that have bubbled up on Missouri's campus, most recently involving an incident on Oct. 24 when a swastika carved with smeared feces was put up on the wall of...