
The First Amendment prohibits the government from making any law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble. USC, as a private university, is not directly subject to the First Amendment.
However, the California Education Code, in a statute known as the Leonard Law, holds private universities – such as USC – to the same strict standards as public universities when it comes to students’ freedom of speech. As a result, the university may not discipline a student for engaging in speech or other communications protected by the First Amendment. This may extend to banners, chants, slogans, symbols, and other speech that many members of our community find offensive.