ISI just won a significant victory for free speech and the First Amendment. 

I’m pleased to share that we successfully challenged an unjust security fee that was levied against us by The University of Pittsburgh in an attempt to prevent ISI students from hosting a debate on gender ideology. 

This $18,734 fee was imposed after university staff encouraged disruptive protests during the event. 

Thanks to the swift and dedicated efforts of our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the university has rescinded this unconstitutional fee, acknowledging the violation of ISI students’ rights. 

ADF's legal team advocated on behalf of ISI and Pitt's College Republicans chapter, highlighting how the university's actions ran afoul of the First Amendment.

The event in question was a debate between Michael Knowles and Brad Polumbo on whether transgenderism should be regulated by law. Hosted on April 18, the event was intended to spark constructive engagement among students on this critical issue. 

But the university's provocations incited disruptions and burdened ISI with excessive security fees that were inconsistent with initial estimates. 

ADF's intervention against this attempted “heckler's veto” led to the cancelation of these charges and reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding free speech and the pursuit of truth on college campuses.

As a member of the ISI community, this is YOUR victory as well.

Your support empowers ISI to educate for ordered liberty . . . and form more young Americans who think deeply, read widely, and live virtuously. 

With the academic year around the corner, we’re gearing up to hold more than 150 educational events around the country. These events will fill the void left by higher education and teach students about the Western tradition, American history, economic freedom, political philosophy, and more. 

Can I count on your renewed support to help us reach as many students as possible? 

Please consider making a new gift today to support ISI’s core programs. Your donation will also help foster a vibrant marketplace of ideas within the academic community and expose more young people to the ideas that Pitt officials tried to censor. 

To make a tax-deductible contribution or learn more about how you can support ISI's initiatives, please visit ISI.org/freedom-and-virtue-club.

Thank you for standing with us in defense of free speech and the pursuit of truth. 

For Learning and Leadership, 

Johnny Burtka 

President and CEO