BSU: No response to accusation of free speech violation

Boise State University officials will meet Wednesday to determine how to move forward after a liberty-oriented group charged the school violated student rights by assessing special fees for a pro-gun rights event.

Greg Hahn, BSU’s spokesman, confirmed the school had received a letter from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which said that the school charged an unfair security fee to the local chapter of Young Americans for Liberty.

Hahn said the school doesn’t have an official response to FIRE’s allegations just yet, but could as soon as Wednesday. He didn’t hint how the school might handle the issue.

The student group featured Dick Heller, a gun-rights hero who brought down a handgun ban in Washington, D.C., for a May 16 address in the Student Union Building. The day before the speech, the school slapped Young Americans for Liberty, one of the co-sponsoring organizations, with a surprise $465 fee to cover additional security and police officers that BSU deemed necessary for safety reasons.

BSU also threatened to cancel the Heller speech if YAL refused to pay the security fee. Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter More here.

Do you think the extra security fee was reasonable?