Why Nicole Neily Decided to Sue Schools With a Culture of Censorship

Chilling refers to regulations that don’t ban speech, but are too broad or vague, causing people to self-censor for fear of violating the law.

Nicole Neily, president of Speech First, in Washington on Jan. 26, 2020. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Nicole Neily was in college when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened.

She remembers sending an email to one of her professors, saying she assumed that class would be canceled the next day. She swiftly received a reply to the contrary: class would take place as usual, and if she were not present, her grade would reflect that.