X Legally Backs University of Illinois Student Who Got In Trouble for Online Posts
Jose Nino
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X, the social media company formerly known as Twitter
came to the defense of Juan David Campolargo, a University of Illinois student wrapped up in a controversy surrounding his posts on the social media platform.
The issue is largely dealing with Campolargo’s promotion of an event on X, which was a private conference. After hosting that event, he was accused of violating the university’s code of conduct.
Campolargo faced potential disciplinary actions such as conduct probation and expulsion from campus housing. Thankfully, he found an ally in X. Lawyers from Schaerr Jaffe, X’s legal counsel, warned the university in a letter published on November 14, 2023 against taking any punitive actions, contending that such actions would violate the student’s First Amendment rights. Per The Financial Times, which asserts to have viewed the letter, the law firm warned of filing a potential lawsuit if the university stood by its initial findings, indicating an infringement of Campolargo’s rights to free expression.
Campolargo ran an X account showcasing open events with free food at the university.
On top of that, Schaerr Jaffe’s letter highlighted procedural flaws and did not look at evidence in the way the university handled the case, describing the imposed penalties as unjust and disproportionate.
Free speech on university campuses is in an incredibly precarious state. It’s good that social media platforms like X are willing to go to bat for students who are being subjected to these controls. It’s a desperately needed solution for a time when this concept is under constant threat.
Ultimately, we need a parallel elite to defend free speech if we want it to continue existing.
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