Student Group Gets Censored
Bad? Brilliant?
You can rate this post.
Register or login now and
tell us what you think.

Recently, the reprographics (on-campus copy facilities) department at our college denied us of our first amendment rights by telling us that the material for a Global Warming rally we were hosting was “too political” to be printed and distributed on campus. Because our club, the Progressive Student Alliance, is a chartered club with the college, we are supposed to be allowed full access to the department so long as we do not endorse specific candidates, and/or legislation. This is common among all other clubs on campus, as Christian organizations to Surfing clubs have equal access to those functions, and are regularly allowed to print and post as they please. After we contacted the local news paper, the administration finally budged and had a meeting with us. Proceeding this was an article in the newspaper, which was interesting, as our campus authorities dubiously lied, and told the news paper that we were denied access because of time constraints, copyright issues, and other red herrings which were simply not the case. Not only had we used public domain images and student-created artwork, but we had also given the reprographics department the proper paperwork two weeks in advance. It sometimes seems like the only thing that crosses the school bureaucrats mind is that his or her job supercedes all other ethical implications.


Reader Comments
  
...Okay.
By Superduperficial May 15th 2007 at 2:02 am EDT
...First thing's first:

""Recently, the reprographics (on-campus copy facilities) department at our college denied us of our first amendment rights by telling us that the material for a Global Warming rally we were hosting was “too political” to be printed and distributed on campus.""

Their decision in no way impacts or infringes upon your first amendment rights.



That said, there's a lesson here for all of us: If a school administrator is telling you 'no' on something, and you get a reason out of them, get it in writing. Otherwise, the school's PR department can get away with saying whatever they like later on.
Re: ...Okay.
By Liberaltarian May 15th 2007 at 10:18 am EDT
Agreed. Justin, your college is a private one, and therefore entirely exempt from First Amendment wranglings. That being said, they were pretty damn rude to you. How the hell do they expect to foster an atmosphere of awareness and debate if things are "too political" to be photocopied??

That was a very good move, going to the local media. And yes, next time get something in writing, or at least videotaped. Good luck! :)
Re: ...Okay.
By Justin Gilmore May 15th 2007 at 10:55 am EDT
My college is actually public college which is supposed to use our public funds in a non-discriminatory way.
Re: ...Okay.
By Liberaltarian May 15th 2007 at 4:32 pm EDT
Well! Someone should have done his research a bit better! Sorry. :X Then yes, if public money is being spent, the college has very limited latitude regarding what it can prevent being printed.
Re: ...Okay.
By JR May 15th 2007 at 5:01 pm EDT
A prohibition against distributing political materials on a public college campus doesn't interfere with the First Amendment rights of students?
Re: ...Okay.
By Superduperficial May 16th 2007 at 12:52 am EDT
Oh, it's a public college - that makes it different. I originally had hopped to his profile, saw "College of the Canyons", and didn't recognize it as a public school. After a bit of googling, I now see that it is indeed public, and so I retract that part of my comment.
  
Campus Progress

Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.

Campus Progress