University president commanded removal of DU bumper sticker

[mike_c]

...from my office door! Sort of-- maybe. Yesterday someone slipped a hard copy of an email under my door "signed" by the University president drawing my attention to state regs against the display of "partisan political material." Odd that the president didn't send the email to me himself (i'll contact him in a day or two to confirm). No doubt the messenger was one of a couple of people who have expressed patriotic disapproval regarding the anti-war and anti-corporate material I display there, but that isn't partisan so it doesn't count. I've already received explicit rulings about the peace flag and corporation nation flag in the lab windows-- they're free speech (and have been continuously displayed for three years). So the only items that were actually partisan were my DU sticker and another sticker that says "Not my president." They had to go.

[baldguy]

1. Talk to your president first.

I wouldn't think something slipped under your door is an official communication from the administration. More like something a criminal would do.

Ya know, come to think of it...

[Solon]

2. Well, technically, on someone else's property...

you don't have unlimited First Amendment rights at work, I know that much. However, they HAVE to be consistant, if someone else there has a Bush/Cheney sticker and was not asked to remove it, then you have a case to complain. If not, then your out of luck, sorry. The only exception is if it was on your car, that's yours and you have unlimited First Amendment rights on it, as long as you don't block out your own view of the road or any of the lights on it, traffic laws and all that.

[mike_c]

4. oh, I don't dispute it-- I just think it's a bit funny...

...that with all the stuff on my door that sets winger teeth on edge, the DU sticker was the only thing that crossed the "partisan" line.

[Iris]

6. Is this a public university or private? n/t

[mike_c]

10. California State University....

I suspect the regulation is a general one prohibiting the display of "partisan political material" on state property and is not usually applied at universities unless someone complains-- I know my university does NOT want to engage in political censorship, and as I said, there's lots of stuff on my door that is anti-war, liberal, etc., but without specific partisanship reference. The DU bumper sticker has been there for nearly three years, without complaint. Recently someone has been taping "Protest Warrior" posters to my door at night.

[rogerashton]

8. In a university?

There is also a matter of academic freedom.

[mike_c]

11. yeah, but see my reply above....

University officials have explicitly ruled that the flags and "nonpartisan" expressions are free speech. This was in response to a winger who complained during the post-9/11 flag frenzy.

[gavodotcom]

3. Corporation nation flag...

Is this the one with the corporate logos instead of stars?

I'd love to pick one of those up, know anywhere I can find one?

[mike_c]

5. here you go....

http://www.northernsun.com/cgi-bin/ns/2404.html


Fly it proudly.

on edit: Plug for Northern Sun. Mine has been hung in a window for three years, and has marched in several protests. It still looks good.

[billbuckhead]

7. democratic underground is small "d" rather than Democrat

This site is full of non Democrats who want to stand up for the democratic form of government.

[mike_c]

9. not worth the trouble....

The legal material on the door makes my views quite apparent. And besides, I'm Green. :evilgrin:

[drthais]

12. ok...at MY university

we actually had to sign a pledge
as faculty members
not to engage in any kind of political activity
voter regs, speaking about your preference, etc

I mentioned this to a colleague today
who was wearing a Kerry button
she said a student gave it to her today
and actually, she kjust made up her mind LAST NIGHT!!!!!!
I gave her a hug
and told her she made my day

ps: she is black, as is the 'historically black univ'
where I teach

[mike_c]

13. wow....

I understand the need to be sensitive about not imposing our beliefs on students or putting them on the spot to justify their political convictions if there isn't an explicit instructional justification, but THAT sounds a bit draconian! What's next, loyaly oaths? (I did have to sign one of those to TA in grad school and do my post-doc in a "southern university"-- in the early 90s!)