The U.S. Naval Academy is facing scrutiny over actions that some view as violations of students’ constitutional rights. 

Recent complaints have raised concerns about two civilian professors in the English Department requiring students to state their “preferred pronouns” at the beginning of class. While initially students refused, they eventually played along after the professors pressured them into doing so. This has led to claims of harassment and forced speech, actions that some argue infringe on students’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

At the heart of the issue is the question of whether educators have the right to compel speech from students on a personal matter like gender identity. Such actions could potentially violate the constitutional rights of students, who are entitled to freedom of expression without government interference, as reported by The Daily Signal. 

The controversy brings to mind the legal case of Meriwether v. Hartop, where a professor at Shawnee State University successfully argued that he should not be compelled to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns. The court ruled in favor of the professor, emphasizing that the use of pronouns carries a message, and forcing someone to communicate that message can violate their free speech rights.

Many students at the Naval Academy, especially those in the military context, may feel uncomfortable discussing personal matters like gender identity in a professional setting. They are trained to uphold the values of discipline, duty, and respect but might find themselves in a challenging position when personal beliefs are at odds with institutional expectations.