Austin, Texas — A group of students at the University of Texas at Austin, including Santiago Lopez, is taking a stand against a new state law that limits expressive activities on public university campuses. Lopez, who joined the Society of Unconventional Drummers shortly after starting his studies, is passionate about the club’s mission to demonstrate that anyone can create music from everyday objects, such as buckets and bicycles.
The Society of Unconventional Drummers, known as SOUnD, ends each semester with a performance celebrating their innovative music-making. However, under Senate Bill 2972, enacted on September 1, their traditions may be curtailed. The law restricts students from participating in expressive activities, including performances, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., particularly during the last two weeks of the semester. This prohibition extends to inviting public speakers and using sound amplification devices, affecting SOUnD’s ability to utilize percussion instruments.
Adam Steinbaugh, a lawyer for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which represents the students, argues that the law infringes on their rights to free speech. He points out that “expressive activity” encompasses a broad range of actions, including wearing politically themed clothing and publishing student newspapers. Steinbaugh criticized the law, suggesting that even if lawmakers intended to target disruptive protests specifically, the restrictions are much broader in scope.
In response to the legislation, SOUnD filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the university’s administration, including the presidents of UT Austin and UT Dallas, the UT Board of Regents, and Chancellor Dr. John Zerwas. The bill, authored by State Senator Brandon Creighton of Conroe, was motivated by a significant protest at the UT Austin campus in April 2024 that drew hundreds of demonstrators and resulted in multiple arrests.
Creighton, who has since been named a finalist for the chancellorship at Texas Tech University, did not provide a response to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. Steinbaugh contends that the law represents a step backward in free speech protections, sharply contrasting with legislation passed just six years ago that expanded such rights on university campuses.
In 2019, state Senator Joan Huffman emphasized the importance of allowing free expression on campus, advocating for strong protections for students and faculty against disciplinary action for exercising their rights. Steinbaugh expressed concern that lawmakers are reacting to the current political climate, attempting to stifle expressions they find uncomfortable.
As the U.S. District Court in Austin considers the merits of the case, Steinbaugh is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of the law until a final determination is made. The University of Texas System has stated that it has not yet reviewed the lawsuit and is unable to comment further as it is currently a matter of litigation.
The outcome of this legal challenge could have significant implications for expressive freedoms on college campuses across Texas and potentially influence similar laws in other states.
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