Officials Criticize Weber State For Banning Words

(Ogden, UT) — State officials say Weber State was wrong to prohibit a guest speaker from using certain words during a planned speech. Darcie Little Badger canceled her appearance when Weber State told her not to use words like “bias,”, “critical race theory” and “oppression.” The university imposed the restrictions on her speech out of fear that they might violate a 2024 law called HB261. Little Badger took to social media to denounce what she called censorship. Now, the Utah System of High Education says Weber State was wrong to censor a speaker. They say HB261 mandates diversity of viewpoint but shouldn’t be used to shut down free speech.