Earlier this year, Texas State University ranked as the third worst college in the nation for free speech.

Credit: Shutterstock / University of College The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) on Friday accused Texas State University of "egregious" First Amendment violations after school officials removed paid advertisements from the student newspaper's news stands.

School officials seized the print advertisements on independent student newspaper The University Star's newsstands on Oct. 23 because Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa purchased ad space.