Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent a letter Tuesday to the university alleging that it violated the First Amendment. This comes just months after Chico State paused recruitment for member houses within the InterFraternity Council.
“Chico State’s guilt-by association punishment violates students’ First Amendment rights to free association while failing to meaningfully further campus safety,” F.I.R.E. stated in the letter sent to President Steve Perez.
But Ashley Gebb, chief of staff for the office of the president, said the university disagrees with this assertion.
“We disagree strongly with F.I.R.E.’s statement and do not believe that the university did anything unlawful,” Gebb said.
In the beginning of the spring semester, Fraternity and Sorority Life paused recruitment for one year for IFC fraternities. This decision came after a series of hazing allegations in Fall 2025.
In an email to the campus community Feb. 4, program coordinator for FSL, Chuy Rojas Rivas, said IFC recruitment would be paused “… while the university works with current chapters to redesign recruitment and new-member education.”
But not every IFC fraternities was accused or found to be engaging in hazing activities. This, in part, is why F.I.R.E. is alleging that the university is violating the First Amendment for “guilt by association.”
F.I.R.E. called on the university to reinstate recruitment for Spring 2026. “We urge Chico State to immediately lift this ban and commit to individualized disciplinary determinations going forward.”
The university said that it won’t change its decision. “We will stand by our decision to pause recruitment this spring as an opportunity to enhance safety and strengthen fraternity life,” Gebb said.
Garrett Gravley, program counsel for F.I.R.E., said that “Contrary to what administrators have said, this directive is a punishment, and it is unconscionable to apply punishment to fraternities that are not accused of wrong doing.”
Gravley said that currently there aren’t any plans to file a lawsuit.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions, formerly Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, is a prominent free speech organization that provides legal counsel, support and advocacy.
Program Coordinator for FSL, Chuy Rojas Rivas, did not provide comment by time of publication.
Correction: wording was changed in last paragraph for clarity.
Chris Hutton can be reached at [email protected].
Christopher Hill // Mar 4, 2026 at 11:00 pm
I don’t have any particular problems with the stand they are taking here, but the ending of the article is potentially misleading. You state “The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions, formerly Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, is a leading free speech organization that provides legal counsel, support and advocacy. ”
Is this a direct quote from a press release or something? They are an organization that was founded by right-wing libertarians, and which have had very close ties to conservative organizations like Turning Point USA for most of their history.
They have recently tried to buck this right-wing reputation and have taken some stands which have alienated them from their old conservative allies (like defending pro-Palestine protestors) but they remain controversial because of their history and because they still have some pretty idiosyncratic views about “wokeness” and sexual harassment.