Brechner News

Posted: October 25, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “ACLU Lawsuit Looks to Take Down Oklahoma’s CRT Teaching Ban as Free Speech Violation” published on the74million.org website on Oct. 25. The article focuses on an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit challenging Oklahoma’s restriction of public school’s instruction on race and gender alleging it to be an antiracism teaching ban. According to LoMonte, “There is a pretty good chance that students can show their First Amendment rights have been violated. When schools restrict academic content, it can amount to a First Amendment violation…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Critical Race Theory Ban, Frank LoMonte

Posted: October 25, 2021

Clay Calvert, director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project and Brechner Eminent Scholar in Mass Communication at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC), and Frank LoMonte, UFCJC Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, were quoted in “Alachua County Not Violating First Amendment by Blocking Public Comment on Social Media Sites, Experts Say” published in The Gainesville Sun on Oct. 21. The story focuses on a recent decision by Alachua County, Florida to stop allowing public comments on its social media sites to prevent controversial and divisive posts. Their social platforms are meant for…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte

Posted: October 4, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “4 First Amendment ‘Where America Stands’ Findings that Surprised Experts (and 3 that Didn’t)” published in Freedom Forum on Sept. 29. The article focuses on Freedom Forum’s newly released “The First Amendment: Where America Stands.” This survey provides a picture of Americans’ knowledge of and attitudes about the five freedoms the amendment protects. According to LoMonte, “Our public education system does a very poor job of modeling respect for First Amendment values, leaving the First Amendment a ‘damaged brand.’” He adds, “It’s not…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte

Posted: September 23, 2021

Three University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information faculty and research associates will present at three sessions during the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC) 2021 FOI Summit to be held virtually from Sept. 28-30. The virtual FOI Summit will include panel sessions and two hands-on training seminars. Sessions focus on FOI lessons learned from the pandemic along with presentations from the next generation of open government advocates and discussions on how to close the data gap in minority communities. Daniel Delgado, research associate, will participate in the “Data Desserts: How to Close Gaps…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: 2021 FOI Summit, Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Daniel Delgado, Frank LoMonte, Sara Ganim

Posted: September 7, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “There’s No Standard Among Colleges’ COVID Vaccination Dashboards” published in The Chronicle of Higher Education on Sept. 2. The story focuses on the lack of consistency when publicizing vaccination rates at universities making it difficult to draw comparisons between institutions. According to LoMonte, when it comes to vaccination data, the more granular, the better. “If you are aggregating the data, then you can’t tell whether you need to do more catch-up work in educating the students or the faculty or the staff, and…

Category: College News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, COVID-19 Vaccination Data, Frank LoMonte

Posted: August 30, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director and co-chair of the American Bar Association Free Speech and Free Press committee, will serve as panel moderator for “How Free is the Free Press,” a virtual webinar on Constitution Day, Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m. EDT. The webinar will focus on the First Amendment and current challenges and threats to freedom of the press in the U.S. Other topics include the arrest and harassment of reporters covering demonstrations, concerns raised by now two Supreme Court Justices about the need to reform libel…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: American Bar Association, Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Constitution Day, Frank LoMonte

Posted: August 26, 2021

A research paper co-authored by Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is referenced in “Does Criminalizing ‘Disruption’ in Schools Violate Free Speech” published in The Crime Report on Aug. 24. The article focuses on the questionable constitutionality of laws that make it a crime to speak “disruptively” on school premises or at school functions, without defining “disruption,” which leaves kids vulnerable to the whims of school police. In their research paper, LoMonte and UF law student and Brechner research assistant Anne Marie Tamburo, examined Masters v. Kentucky. The appellate…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Anne Marie Tamburo, Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, First Amendment, Frank LoMonte, free speech, School Disruption Laws

Posted: August 19, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Bigelow School Committed to ‘Cancel Culture’ by Censoring Yearbook Pages, Says Student Media Advocate” published on arkansasonline.com on Aug. 19. The article focuses on the removal of a 2020-2021 timeline from a high school yearbook featuring world-changing events that occurred during the academic year. According to LoMonte, “When you stifle discussion of current events, you stifle civic education, and there is unanimous national consensus that students are graduating with a deficit of civic knowledge.” “Basing a censorship decision on community…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, censorship, Critical Race Theory, Frank LoMonte

Posted: August 17, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Taking Critical Race Theory Bans to Court” published in Real Clear Politics on Aug. 11. The article examines the lawsuits stemming from banning the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in many states. The lawsuits focus on the scope of the First Amendment, whether the bans are too vague, whether racial discrimination played a role in the legislation development and if the bans abridge equal-protection rights. According to LoMonte, the principle of academic freedom guarantees ”some degree of autonomy for…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Critical Race Theory, Frank LoMonte

Posted: August 11, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Housing Authority Under Federal Investigation Before Top Leaders Removed” published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Aug. 11. The article focuses on the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority which was under federal investigation in the months leading up to the removal of the agency’s top two employees. LoMonte denounced the housing authority’s decision to shroud the reasons behind its leadership shakeup and said their secretiveness is likely to sow distrust among its employees and the public. “It’s a widely recognized…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte

Posted: July 30, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of “Lawsuits Over Bans on Teaching Critical Race Theory Are Coming – Here’s What Won’t Work and What Might” published in The Conversation on July 20. LoMonte questions if possible disciplinary action against teachers who include systemic racism in their curriculum is a violation of their First Amendment rights. According to LoMonte, “Whether K-12 educators have any legally protected right to choose how and what to teach is sure to be tested soon, now that the furor over teaching kids…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte

Posted: July 12, 2021

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Federal Speech Rulings May Embolden Health Care Workers to Call Out Safety Issues” published on the Kaiser Health News site on July 9. The article focuses on Maine Coast Hospital’s decision to fire an employee for giving information to the news media about staffing shortages and patient safety issues without the direct involvement of the hospital’s media office. On May 26, the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision issued last year…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte