Weber State University’s annual Unity Conference was recently canceled by administrators over concerns that its content would violate a new anti-diversity, equity and inclusion law in the state.

The irony? This year’s theme was on censorship.

The decision ignited a firestorm of debate about free speech and academic freedom — and prompted scholars to host an alternative event titled “Unity Conference: Uncensored version.”

The event, held Friday, included open-mic opportunities, speeches, and presenters from the original canceled conference, the Signpost reported.

“A crowd of approximately 50 people attended the event, as the speakers discussed a wide range of topics on book banning and limitations of censorship of scientific research and papers,” the student newspaper reported.

The administration’s justification for the cancellation was based on state law HB 261, which restricts non-academic campus programs from addressing DEI topics like anti-racism and oppression.

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions, campus leaders went too far.

“The First Amendment protects faculty speech and FIRE calls out WSU for overinterpreting the law to censor,” the foundation stated on X.

Richard Price, a political science professor at Weber State, alleged in a blog post and an email to the university president that he was directed to alter the content of his presentation, forcing him to choose between participating under false pretenses or withdrawing, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

“I, a political scientist, was told not to talk about politics,” Price wrote. “In other words I was ordered to lie to my colleagues, students and the general public.”

Campus leaders acknowledged that they need to address the massive controversy and concern the decision caused, but have yet to back down on their interpretation of the law.

“We recognize that this has been difficult to navigate and that there have been times when communication could have been clearer,” the administration wrote in an email to faculty and staff. “We apologize for the frustration this has caused. We are truly working to move forward, through what has sometimes been shifting guidance, together.”

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