The University of Washington's Board of Regents almost voted on a change to the school's Student Conduct Code in early September, which led to a wave of pushback from students and faculty who read it as an effort to crackdown on certain kinds of protests. The school delayed that original vote and extended its feedback period to December. 

Soundside spoke to students, as well as an organization that advocates for free speech, about what all of this signals about the state of protests at the University of Washington. 

Also, KUOW is a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, meaning we fundraise separately and maintain editorial independence from the school.

Today on the show:
Radcliffe Cushman, an undergraduate student at the University of Washington
Francisco Dojenia, a graduate student at the University of Washington 
Laura Beltz, the director of policy reform at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

The University of Washington's Board of Regents almost voted on a change to the school's Student Conduct Code in early September, which led to a wave of pushback from students and faculty who read it as an effort to crackdown on certain kinds of protests. The school delayed that original vote and extended its feedback period to December.&nbsp;
Soundside spoke to students, as well as an organization that advocates for free speech, about what all of this signals about the state of protests at the University of Washington.&nbsp;
Also, KUOW is a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, meaning we fundraise separately and maintain editorial independence from the school.
Today on the show:
<ul>
<li>Radcliffe Cushman, an undergraduate student at the University of Washington</li>
<li>Francisco Dojenia, a graduate student at the University of Washington&nbsp;</li>
<li>Laura Beltz,&nbsp;the director of policy reform at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<hr>
Thank&nbsp;you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes"> donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside leads the Puget Sound conversation with smart questions, lively debates, and direct access to the region's most influential voices. Timely, insightful, and unmistakably local, it's where the Pacific Northwest comes to dig into the news.

Soundside leads the Puget Sound conversation with smart questions, lively debates, and direct access to the region's most influential voices. Timely, insightful, and unmistakably local, it's where the Pacific Northwest comes to dig into the news.

Soundside

The university's plans to update its Student Conduct Code led to resistance from students and faculty, who worried the changes would lead to harsher punishments for protestors.  The school held off on that vote so, in the meantime, Soundside spoke to a few different people about what all the back and forth signals about protesting at the University of Washington. 

New school year, new fights over free speech at the UW

Front Page - Thursday Oct 15

Flock part 1

Flock part 2

 Weekend Warmup!

In Renton, a heated fight over whether to keep Flock cameras mirrors the national angst people are feeling about surveillance, government, and big tech. These license plate readers are pitting law enforcement and public safety advocates against people concerned about immigration enforcement and government intrusion into privacy and personal liberties.

Today on the show:
4 a Better Renton organizer Sheryl Friesz
Tukwila Police Chief Eric Lund
Renton City Councilmember James Alberson
Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

In Renton, a heated fight over whether to keep Flock cameras mirrors the national angst people are feeling about surveillance, government, and big tech. These license plate readers are pitting law enforcement and public safety advocates against people concerned about immigration enforcement and government intrusion into privacy and personal liberties.
Today on the show:
<ul>
<li>4 a Better Renton organizer Sheryl Friesz</li>
<li>Tukwila Police Chief Eric Lund</li>
<li>Renton City Councilmember James Alberson</li>
<li>Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Thank&nbsp;you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Renton is considering whether to keep Flock cameras. The clock is ticking.

Front Page - Wednesday Oct 14

Out of state races

Constitutional candidates

Washington has two neighboring states with very close races on very issues that show interesting fault lines in the electorate. In deep blue Oregon, Democratic Governor Tina Kotek is in an extremely tight race with her Republican opponent, Christine Drazan.  And in deep red Idaho, a proposition to overturn the state’s abortion ban is bringing in a lot of money and interest.

Plus: a look at a successful write in campaign in Skagit County.

Today on the show:
James Dawson of Boise State Public Radio
Dirk VanderHart of OPB
Isaac Simonelli of Cascadia Daily News

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Washington has two neighboring states with very close races on very issues that show interesting fault lines in the electorate. In deep blue Oregon, Democratic Governor Tina Kotek is in an extremely tight race with her Republican opponent, Christine Drazan.&nbsp; And in deep red Idaho, a proposition to overturn the state&rsquo;s abortion ban is bringing in a lot of money and interest.
Plus: a look at a successful write in campaign in Skagit County.
Today on the show:
<ul>
<li>James Dawson of Boise State Public Radio</li>
<li>Dirk VanderHart of OPB</li>
<li>Isaac Simonelli of Cascadia Daily News</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Thank&nbsp;you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes"> donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Close races in Northwest states show interesting fault lines in the electorate

Listeners, it's time to lock in on the races for the Washington Supreme Court. Why? Five out of nine seats are up for grabs, a rare number of seas. We’re expecting some pretty big rulings from the justices in the years to come.  

In the last two elections, five out of the six candidates for Washington Supreme Court ran unopposed.

We take a look at some of the court's biggest recent rulings and get to know the candidates. 

Plus: Two conversations including critiques of and praise for the state Supreme Court's track record. 

Guests

Amy Radil, KUOW reporter

Todd Myers, vice president of research at the Washington Policy Center

Jessica Levin, associate teaching professor and senior director, Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice at Seattle University School of Law

Related Links

WA Supreme Court candidates make their case as high-profile election nears - Washington State Standard

Court watchers have eyes on races to reshape Washington Supreme Court - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

 

 

 

 

Listeners, it's time to lock in on the races for the Washington Supreme Court. Why? Five out of nine seats are up for grabs, a rare number of seas. We&rsquo;re expecting some pretty big rulings from the justices in the years to come. &nbsp;
In the last two elections, five out of the six candidates for Washington Supreme Court ran unopposed. We take a look at some of the court's biggest recent rulings and get to know the candidates.&nbsp; Plus: Two conversations including critiques of and praise for the state Supreme Court's track record.&nbsp; Guests Amy Radil, KUOW reporter
Todd Myers, vice president of research at the Washington Policy Center
Jessica Levin, associate teaching professor and senior director, Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice at Seattle University School of Law Related Links
<a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/10/06/wa-supreme-court-candidates-make-their-case-as-high-profile-election-nears/">WA Supreme Court candidates make their case as high-profile election nears </a>- Washington State Standard <a href="https://www.kuow.org/elections/2026-10-13/court-watchers-have-eyes-on-races-to-reshape-washington-supreme-court">Court watchers have eyes on races to reshape Washington Supreme Court</a> - KUOW
<hr>
Thank&nbsp;you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to<a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes"> donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;
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There are five races on the ballot, and some pretty high stakes cases expected. 

New school year, new fights over free speech at the UW

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