Free Speech Law: Where We've Been, Where We're Going

Regular and lottery registration open on January 8, 2026.
Dates: September 14 - October 5, 2021
Meets: Tues. from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon
 Location: Online
Cost:  $50.00

Sorry, the signup deadline has passed.

Date Day Time
09/14/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N
09/21/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N
09/28/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N
10/05/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2021 - 2022 OLLI at MSU Membership

Every U.S. citizen knows that the First Amendment protects free speech, but what does that actually mean? Susan Dana, an attorney and recently retired MSU instructor, will survey the Supreme Court's landmark free speech cases, exploring the Court's reasoning and applying its decisions to current free speech issues. Topics include subversive speech, offensive speech, hate speech, freedom of the press, defamation, campaign finance and free speech on the internet.

Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.

Fee:  $50.00

Online

This is a real-time (live) online class that meets at the specified day(s)/time(s) listed.

We will send you a reminder email with login instructions one business day before the program start date. If there are additional sessions, we will send reminders the morning of those sessions.

Susan Dana

Susan Dana is Professor Emerita at MSU. During her 25-year career at MSU, she taught a variety of law-related courses and has also taught several OLLI programs, including on the U.S. Supreme Court, free speech, the law of privacy and Greek mythology. She is the past president of the OLLI Advisory Council. She holds a B.A. in Classics from Brown University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.
Date Day Time Location
09/14/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N Online
09/21/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N Online
09/28/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N Online
10/05/2021Tuesday10 AM to 12 N Online

By the end of the course, participants should have a sense of the history of free speech law in the U.S. and an appreciation for the challenges free speech issues present.

  • Understand the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in making First Amendment law
  • Explain key First Amendment free speech legal principles and theories
  • Apply First Amendment jurisprudence to current free speech issues
  • Articulate and defend your own approach to free speech