Don't Mess with Firefly! How SciFi Fans Made a Campus Safe for Free Speech (feat. Neil Gaiman)

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This video, which features an interview with legendary author Neil Gaiman, is a lighthearted look at how the University of Wisconsin--Stout backed down from its censorship of Professor James Miller's posters, one featuring a quote from the science fiction show Firefly, and the other condemning fascism. Stout stood by its actions until FIRE's advocacy campaign on Miller's behalf inspired Gaiman, along with Firefly actors Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin, to take to Twitter to encourage their millions of followers to contact the university with their support of free speech.

Music by audionautix.com.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Firefly (TV Series)
• College
• University
• Neil Gaiman

[TheKingofnoob]

Keep flying, Browncoats. They can't take the sky from us.

[BrizyComics]

Imagine if this professor's poster had featured an image and similarly toned quote from Shakespeare. Would that have been so readily attacked by the administration?

[AEigner]

@SGlitz Shut up in the name of free speech!

[malachitx]

Yeah, but it's our Constitution. So give us our rights!

[emmapeel66]

If someone tries to shoot you, you shoot him right back !

Browncoats I love you !

[JonRoland1787]

Yes, bring back Firefly, or sequels to Serenity, for which I have an alternate ending:

Operative: "I didn't order my men to stand down to save you. I did it to save them. River would have killed them all. There are now two great powers in the 'Verse. The Parliament and the crew of Serenity. They are headed for a showdown, and I honestly don't know which will win."

I want to see that showdown.

[brittanyboo271]

@takeoUup115 even though they dont play it as often on tv firefly is still a movie series so you can buy it.

[JewMyFro56]

It may not be on fox, but mark my words. There will be more firefly. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in ten years, but there will be more. There isn't a power in the 'verse that can stop it.

[robertonduty]

I think it's interesting to note that the biggest "speech police" and "thought police" are almost always "liberal"... the people who constantly promote the ideas and ideals of "progressivism". No need to look past any campus or Occupy barrista with a megaphone to see and hear what that means

[sherri99516]

Excellent video about just how important it is to defend free speech because if you don't stand up for free speech, you won't have it! Kudos and much respect for Neil Gaiman! He's a hero in my book. Hey, I remember Firefly. Yes, its a pretty decent sci-fi series, and I always wondered why it was canceled.

[himemiyaanthy25]

@davebo357 i went to that school for awhile. they do give everyone backpacks with the school name on them at registration

[NotMissSunshine]

5:02 "It was a game changer". Don't you mean "It was a Gaiman changer"?

Ba-dun-ch.