Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amanda Nordstrom

@freespeechlawyer.bsky.social

Campus Rights Attorney at FIRE.
Formerly at PETA.

Feminist Killjoy. Embroidery Artist.
Elder Lesbian. Animal Rights Activist.
Neighborhood Cat Lady. Mother of Pugs.

Opinions mine, but yours to share.

Posts Replies Media Videos

Amanda Nordstrom

@freespeechlawyer.bsky.social

Amazing talk tonight by Folklorist Linda Jean Lee @ the very cool nonprofit art venue Black Squirrel Gallery in Philly.

Linda J. Lee @lindajeanlee.bsky.social · 22d

Hey Philly folks! What are you doing Sunday? Come learn about some of my favorite witches from fairy tales and legends! #witches #Halloween #FolkloreThursday #AskAFolklorist

Profs and Pints @profsandpints.bsky.social · Oct 2

October 26th in Philadelphia! Details and tickets at www.ticketleap.events/tickets/prof... .

October 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Reposted by Amanda Nordstrom

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

@thefireorg.bsky.social

Efforts to deport students based on their speech or protected activism undermine America's commitment to free expression.

If ICE detained Rumeysa Ozturk based on her op-ed or activism, it's a worrying escalation in an already fraught environment for college students here on student visas.

March 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM

Reposted by Amanda Nordstrom

Animal Activist Legal Defense Project

@aaldp-du.bsky.social

"End Experiments on Dogs" by Marc Bekoff & Jane Goodall in @washingtonpost.com. @aaldp-du.bsky.social is proud to have worked hard to usher this through to publication. Please share. Let's end #animaltesting on dogs! wapo.st/41QfnQy #animalrights #animalcruelty #animalwelfare #vegan

March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM

Reposted by Amanda Nordstrom

Adam Steinbaugh

@adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social

The US Attorney in Washington DC is investigating Georgetown Law School, demanding that "if DEI is found in your courses or teaching in anyway [sic]," the law school should "move swiftly to remove it"

Federal prosecutors don’t control the classroom. This is a dark abdication of the First Amendment.

Dear Sir,
As United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, I receive requests for information and clarification. I take these requests seriously and act on them with letters like this one you are receiving.
It has come to my attention reliably that Georgetown Law School continues to teach and promote DEl. This is unacceptable. I have begun an inquiry into this and would welcome your response to the following questions:
First, have you eliminated all DEl from your school and its curriculum?
Second, if DEl is found in your courses or teaching in anyway, will you move swiftly to remove it?
At this time, you should know that no applicant for our fellows program, our summer internship, or employment in our office who is a student or affiliated with a law school or university that continues to teach and utilize DEl will be considered.
I look forward to your cooperation with my letter of inquiry after request. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Please respond by Monday, February 24, 2025. Should you have further questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to call my office or schedule a time to meet in person.

March 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM

Reposted by Amanda Nordstrom

Bruno J. Navarro

@brunojnavarro.bsky.social

Columbia University senior Maryam Alwan was visiting family in Jordan over winter break when she received an email from the school accusing her of harassment. Her supposed top offense: writing an op-ed in the student newspaper calling for divestment from Israel.

Facing Trump's threats, Columbia investigates students critical of Israel

A new Columbia University disciplinary committee is investigating students who have criticized Israel.

apnews.com

March 6, 2025 at 11:44 AM

Reposted by Amanda Nordstrom

Sarah McLaughlin

@sarahemclaugh.bsky.social

Fantastic work from @adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social, @jdzeman.bsky.social, and @jtmorristx.bsky.social to swiftly defend the First Amendment rights of Texas students after the Texas A&M University System abruptly banned drag performances on its 11 campuses last week.

LAWSUIT: LGBTQ student group sues to overturn Texas A&M’s unconstitutional drag ban

A public university can't ban student expression just because its regents find it offensive.

www.thefire.org

March 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM

Reposted by Amanda Nordstrom

Adam Steinbaugh

@adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social

Texas A&M University System bans student drag shows because they might offend someone. Utter disregard for basic First Amendment rights.

[...] WHEREAS, the Board recognizes and supports the efforts of the Universities’ student, staff and faculty organizations, to foster a sense of community and belonging for the many students, staff and faculty of the Universities from varied backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, the Board is aware that each of the Universities operate and maintain meeting rooms, theaters, auditoriums, and other venues available to student, staff and faculty organizations in which the organizations periodically host events that are open to members of the public (Special Event Venues); and
WHEREAS, the Board recognizes a special interest in maintaining the Universities’ Special Event Venues as limited forums for the purpose of promoting the mission of the System to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the Board finds that it is inconsistent with the System’s mission and core values of its Universities, including the value of respect for others, to allow Special Event Venues of the Universities to be used for drag shows that involve biological males dressing in women’s clothing, wearing exaggerated female make up and/or exaggerated prosthetics meant to parody the female body type, and that are: open to the public; involve sexualized, vulgar or lewd conduct; and involve conduct that demeans women (Drag Show Events); and
WHEREAS, the Board finds that Drag Show Events are likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women contrary to System anti-discrimination policy and Title IX . . ., as these events often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for many members of the respective communities of the Universities, particularly when they involve the mockery or objectification of women; and

WHEREAS, the Board is advised that there are alternative locations for such events at off-campus venues and private facilities near the Universities; and
WHEREAS, the Board acknowledges Trump’s Executive Order issued Jan. 20, 2025, entitled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. The Board further acknowledges that the Order recognizes two sexes, male and female, and specifies that the federal government shall not promote gender ideology; and
WHEREAS, the Order further provides that federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology; and
WHEREAS, the Board acknowledges Gov. Abbott’s letter dated January 30, 2025, expressing support for the Order and directing state agencies to “comply with the law and the biological reality that there are only two sexes – male and female”; and
WHEREAS, given that both the System and the Universities receive significant federal funding, the use of facilities at the Universities for Drag Show Events may be considered promotion of gender ideology in violation of the Order and the Governor’s directive; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that it is the policy of the Board of Regents that Drag Show Events shall not be held at Special Event Venues on any of the campuses of the Universities, from and after the date of this resolution; and, be it, further
RESOLVED, that the Board of Regents directs the Chancellor and the President of each of the Universities to take the actions necessary to implement the policy set forth above, including action to cancel any upcoming Drag Show Events and to review and, as needed, to revise the university’s procedures for the use of its Special Event Venues to ensure compliance with (a) the policy expressed in this resolution, (b) the above-referenced Executive Order from President Trump and directive from Gov. Abbott , and (c) other state and federal law, including Title IX and its promise of a discrimination-free educational environment.

February 28, 2025 at 9:35 PM

Amanda Nordstrom

@freespeechlawyer.bsky.social

BREAKING: FIRE sues on behalf of a student group to block an unconstitutional ban on drag shows across the Texas A&M system.

www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...

LAWSUIT: LGBTQ student group sues to overturn Texas A&M’s unconstitutional drag ban

A public university can't ban student expression just because its regents find it offensive.

www.thefire.org

March 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM

Amanda Nordstrom

@freespeechlawyer.bsky.social

Don't forget: today they come for my speech, but tomorrow they come for yours...
👏"The constitutional right that affords racists the legal protections to spew their insidious ideas is the same right that protects social justice activists from government persecution..."👏