CU Boulder Students Sue University Over Policies Impermissibly Restricting Campus Free Speech
August 5, 2026
Boulder, Colo. – Today, Grata Law and Policy LLC filed a lawsuit in Boulder District Court on behalf of five University of Colorado Boulder students challenging University policies that unconstitutionally restrict student speech and protest activities.
Colorado's Students' Right to Speak Act, C.R.S. § 23-5-144, protects students' rights to engage in free speech in publicly accessible areas on college campuses. The complaint alleges that, as part of a recent effort to squelch student protest activity, CU Boulder has adopted and enforced policies that effectively create prohibited "free-speech zones" limiting where people can exercise their First Amendment rights, impose content-based restrictions on student expression, and otherwise subject students to discipline for engaging in protected First Amendment activity.
The lawsuit explains that CU Boulder's policies unlawfully limit protected expressive activity in student forums including the University Memorial Center ("UMC"), which has long served as a hub for student activism, political advocacy, cultural expression, and the free exchange of ideas. According to the complaint, the challenged policies prohibit core First Amendment activities such as chanting, singing, carrying signs, distributing literature, and even wearing clothing with political messages without prior University approval.
The University is enforcing these policies in a manner specifically designed to shut down protest activity. One plaintiff was placed on an interim exclusion from campus in Fall 2025 after participating in a peaceful protest at a career fair while wearing a shirt with a political message and engaging in chants inside the UMC. These are pictures of t-shirts that the University has held violates its policies during protests in the UMC without prior administration approval:
The student plaintiffs seek a declaration that the challenged policies violate the Colorado Students' Right to Speak Act and an injunction prohibiting the University from enforcing them.
Dan Williams, counsel for the plaintiffs, stated: “At their best, universities are places that welcome and nurture student activism because it furthers their missions to develop engaged and involved citizens post-graduation. In response to recent protests against U.S. military support for Israel, however, CU Boulder has taken the opposite approach, which runs counter to its stated mission of developing the leaders of tomorrow.”
Clarice Tenorio, counsel for the plaintiffs, said: “For generations, our courts have recognized that First Amendment protections are especially vital in the university setting. In stark contrast to those constitutional principles, CU Boulder has enacted unlawful policies designed to discourage and penalize student activism, effectively suppressing the speech of students who only seek to improve their campus community through peaceful protest.”
The CU Student plaintiffs are represented by Dan Williams and Clarice Tenorio of Grata Law and Policy LLC. The complaint filed in Boulder District Court can be found here: Yourshaw, Vincent et al v. University of Colorado Complaint.pdf
Media Contact: Anna DelValle, (303) 535-3533, anna@gratalegal.com
Download a PDF of this release here: PRESS RELEASE - Yourshaw, Vincent et al v. University of Colorado