Yale Criticized Over Free Speech Policy at Singapore College

Yale University says students at its new liberal arts college in Singapore will have academic freedom but won't be able to stage protests on campus.

A human rights group has accused the university of betraying its own principles by accepting the constraints imposed by Singaporean law. Members of the university's arts and science faculty have also criticized the plans.

Yale is establishing the college with National University of Singapore to open in 2013.

Singapore's schools are internationally renowned, and the national university already cooperates with other American universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Duke University.

But Singapore retains restrictions on speech and assembly it says are needed to preserve economic prosperity and harmony among its 5 million people.