LINCOLN, Neb. – Conservative students at the University of Nebraska Lincoln recently exposed the school’s disregard for the First Amendment in an online video of university staff heckling members of Turning Point USA for discussing free speech on campus.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk posted a video of the exchange between UNL students and staff, who insisted the students could not distribute “propaganda” outside of the school’s “free speech zones.”

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

“I’m going to have to ask you guys to move this to the free speech zone, or we’ll have to have university police remove you, it’s completely up to you,” a UNL staffer told students with Turning Point USA who set up a table on campus last Friday.

TPUSA chapter president Kaitlyn Mullen pushed back.

“Isn’t this a public university?” she questioned.

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

“Not with propaganda,” the staffer said. “You can free speech all you want but you cannot hand out propaganda.”

“But isn’t this a public university?” Mullen persisted.

“It is,” the staffer said, “but this is a reservable area that requires a reservation.”

That’s when the staffer decided to get tough.

“I’ve asked you once. If I have to ask you again I’m going to have to call the police, it’s up to you,” he said.

“The free speech zone is over there on the other side of the memorial plaza signs,” the staffer said.

Another student then questioned the staffer’s distinction between “propaganda” and free speech.

“What is she doing that violates free speech?” he asked.

“This is a reservable space that requires a reservation and you don’t have one,” the UNL employee said.

“But I’m not inside, I’m on public property,” Mullen insisted.

“It’s everywhere from the two signs ok, so if you’re on the other side of the two signs, you’ve got free speech,” the employee said. “It’s specifically over there between the sign …”

“Is this a public university?” Mullen interjected.

“Yes it is,” the employee said.

“Then why can’t I be out here?” Mullen questioned.

Another student cut in with his two cents on the situation before the unidentified university employee again summarized his demands.

“Yes, public university. Reservable space. Free speech zone,” he said pointing out the different areas. “You guys can be over there because that’s free speech. Here, because now you’ve got propaganda, and you’ve also got a table that requires …”

The employee eventually called the university police, and UNL employees – professors and members of the university staff – also picketed the Turning Point USA table with hand-made signs that alleged members of the conservative student group are “Nazis” and “white nationalists,” WOWT reports.

The incident followed very similar exchanges between Turning Point USA members and several Michigan university officials last year, including one incident that resulted in student arrests for distributing information about free speech, EAGnews reports.

Turning Point USA sued Grand Valley State University over one of the incidents, which forced GVSU to develop a new “Grounds and Facility Use Policy” and pay out $11,025 to cover the legal fees for the student lawsuit.

At the University of Nebraska, Mullen told WOWT she’s simply standing up for free speech in public places, a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution.

“We’re not just fighting for ourselves to be allowed there,” she said. “We want any groups to be allowed out there because our free speech is protected.”

The university staff who protested the students illustrated exactly why the First Amendment education is necessary on campus.

“One of the biggest things we encourage at Turning Point USA is civility in politics, and reasonable discourse, and being able to share and spread ideas without the name calling and the ad hominems,” Turning Point USA regional manager Timon Prax said.

After a meeting between Mullen and UNL officials, University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds apologized in a prepared statement on Monday.

“A number of Nebraskans have expressed concerns about the recent treatment of one of our students in a public space by a University of Nebraska faculty member. I have reviewed the incident in question. The behavior involved vulgar gestures and language that many people would consider offensive. It was unprofessional and not in keeping with the standards of conduct I expect from members of the University of Nebraska community,” he wrote.

“I am a vigorous defender of free speech and I stand by the rights of all employees and students to express their opinions, no matter how provocative. I also believe that as educators, we have an especially high bar for responsibly exercising our First Amendment rights. We have the unique privilege of helping shape young minds, and everything we do is a teachable moment. In this case, we had an opportunity to model how differing opinions can be exchanged with civility, respect and dignity. It appears that opportunity was missed. I’m deeply troubled that a student has been treated this way. I will continue to support free speech, but we must allow for the healthy exchange of ideas without personal attacks, especially against young people who are our future.”