March Madness is right around the corner, but @HowardU student-athletes face censorship before the game even starts. Reporting alleges that a new policy requires players to stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room. This follows the women’s basketball team kneeling before a recent game against the US Military Academy. Howard’s VP of Athletics says the policy balances student expression with respect for others, but silencing students’ political speech for comfort is never the answer. While Howard is a private university, it guarantees students’ freedom of expression. Student-athletes are students first, and universities should protect their right to express themselves, even while playing college sports. Kneeling during the anthem is a protected form of peaceful protest. Forcing players to stand or hide is compelled speech and viewpoint discrimination — and should be unacceptable at a university that has pledged to uphold students’ free speech. The First Amendment protects peaceful protest even when others find it offensive. Howard students must be able to express themselves visibly and not just when it’s convenient to Howard’s higher-ups.