More than 80 distinguished professors have endorsed a new proposed social media policy for Kansas universities.

The professors, from several universities, sent a letter to the Kansas Board of Regents saying the proposed policy “exemplifies the role of scholarship for public intellectuals in a democracy.”

The new policy was proposed by a work group formed by the regents. It proposed a strictly advisory social media policy for university faculty and staff.

That would replace a policy that allows university administrators to discipline or fire employees who they believe have improperly used social media.

Opponents said the policy was too broad and restrained free speech.

The regents passed the current policy in December after a University of Kansas professor posted an anti-NRA tweet on Twitter.

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Associated Press information from: The Lawrence Journal-World