How Auburn University tackles free Speech on and around campus

By: Emma Williams 

AUBURN, AL - Auburn University works hard to protect students’ rights to free speech and to provide them with a safe learning environment. 

Nick Wiard, the director of Student Conduct at Auburn University, says that Auburn has a lenient policy when it comes to free expression. 

“We try to err on the side of let them speak,” said Wiard.

The University protects free speech for students and faculty, as well as outsiders that wish to spread their messages on campus.

“Campus is pretty accessible to folks that are not students. We offer spaces for them to go that they can reserve to have conversations and to engage with people,” said Wiard.

According to Auburn students, there are some outside protesters who have become a fairly familiar face. 

Ally Williams, a junior at Auburn University, says that a woman known as Ruth frequently protests around campus.  

“Everyone on campus knows her,” said Williams. “I don’t really know what she’s protesting for, but she always has a really big sign and is chanting in a different language. I don’t know which language it is.” 

Ruth is typically standing at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue, which is primarily known as Toomer’s Corner. 

“I’ve seen her throughout the day, especially when kids are leaving class and changing class and trying to get across campus,” said Williams. 

Because Ruth protests off campus, Wiard explains that there are limitations on how the University can intervene.

“Ruth is not ours,” Wiard said. “You can do a whole lot of things there and we can’t say a whole lot about it because it is not our space.”

However, students like Ally Williams say they are not bothered by Ruth’s presence.

“I think most people just find it very silly. I don’t think anyone takes it too seriously because most of us don’t really know what language she is speaking,” said Williams.

Some students believe Auburn’s policy towards free speech actually enhances their educational experience. 

“A couple weeks ago, we just had elections, and they had different tables set up on Haley Concourse and basically you can just go up and talk to the candidates about what they would do if they were put in office,” Williams said. “It is a great way for students to share their ideas freely.”

Auburn’s dedication to free expression on and off campus has actually earned the University some national recognition. 

FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, ranked Auburn number 11 out of 251 universities for their “2025 College Free Speech Ranking.” The organization also helped Auburn’s faculty create their new free speech policies. 

“We are the first in the state to get all green lights on all of our policies,” said Wiard. 

Wiard explains that much of Auburn’s leniency has to do with the University's culture. 

“We don’t talk, we don’t express ourselves a lot,” Wiard said. “We are kind of in our bubble, whether you acknowledge it or not.” 

However, Wiard says his office continues to encourage students who want to express themselves, to do so. He also says they are there to teach students how to express themselves in a safe, respectful way. 

“What do you do, how do you navigate when people want to get out of that bubble,” Wiard said.