Dissent is thriving this fall at American colleges, with faculty members protesting new campus protest rules that they believe threaten freedom of speech and academic freedom. Some of the most visible demonstrations have involved professors speaking up for the right to protest itself. Faculty members at colleges across the country have pushed back on the new rules with protests, vigils, and demands for explanation. The protest restrictions are also seen as a labor issue, as colleges have been granting tenure to fewer professors and facing pressure to limit academic freedom in certain areas. Professors argue that students' freedom of speech rights are essential for critical thinking and exploring questions.