Texas Targets Two Students Over Political Window Signs
At a disciplinary hearing Wednesday, two University of Texas roommates defended their right to post political signs in their dorm window in opposition to a housing rule that bans window displays and is designed to "prevent things plastered around campus willy-nilly," as one school official put it.
The two students—also members of the University Democrats—had until 7 p.m. Wednesday to take down two political signs in their dorm room windows, the Daily Texan reports. They were told that if the signs were not taken down by the deadline, they would not be allowed to register for spring classes. But as of 9:30 p.m., the signs were still up and both could still register.
Over the course of the semester, the two students had been warned at least three times that their signs violated housing guidelines, and last week, they were notified of the disciplinary hearing.
The two students say they have no plans to remove the signs and have threatened to take the university to court, with the backing of both the University Democrats and College Republicans. Furthermore, the president of the University Democrats has called on other students to place signs in their windows, daring the university—which has said it would discipline all other residents who tried a similar stunt—to come after all of them. "We are going to make UT have 1,000 hearings," he said to the media at an impromptu press conference Wednesday. "Make UT fight you—put your signs up."
Tags: politics | University of Texas
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Reader Comments
Thank you, UT!
A University that bans free speech is a not a good University, but a place that wants to brainwash its students into thinking a certain way. I would love to go to UT Austin, because I know it is one of the best public universities in the country. However, I would never go to a University that bans free speech. Thank you, UT, for lifting the ban and letting students have a voice!
The Ban is lifted
The ban has been lifted:
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The University's rule prohibiting the display of signs in students' residence hall room windows has been the subject of a great deal of discussion for the past few days. I am keenly aware that this prohibition is of intense concern to many members of the student body, as well as the larger community. I believe that the free expression of ideas is crucial to our educational mission, and that our rules should foster civil discourse and debate. I conclude, therefore, that this rule should be carefully reviewed with the participation of all constituencies in The University of Texas at Austin community, including students.
Effective immediately, I am suspending the prohibition on signs in individual students' residence hall room windows and any sanctions related to its enforcement. The rule will be removed today from the Division of Housing and Food Service's rules, and will be replaced with an interim regulation that expressly allows the display of signs and posters in students' residence hall room windows.
Juan Gonzalez, Vice President for Student Affairs, has kept me well informed on this issue. I have asked him to convene a committee composed of all major constituencies to discuss all aspects of the policy on residence hall room signs and make recommendations on any changes that need to be made. The interim rule allowing signage in individual students' residence hall room windows will remain in place until the committee issues its report and I act upon their recommendations.
William Powers, Jr.
President
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
The Ban is lifted
The ban has been lifted:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
The University's rule prohibiting the display of signs in students' residence hall room windows has been the subject of a great deal of discussion for the past few days. I am keenly aware that this prohibition is of intense concern to many members of the student body, as well as the larger community. I believe that the free expression of ideas is crucial to our educational mission, and that our rules should foster civil discourse and debate. I conclude, therefore, that this rule should be carefully reviewed with the participation of all constituencies in The University of Texas at Austin community, including students.
Effective immediately, I am suspending the prohibition on signs in individual students' residence hall room windows and any sanctions related to its enforcement. The rule will be removed today from the Division of Housing and Food Service's rules, and will be replaced with an interim regulation that expressly allows the display of signs and posters in students' residence hall room windows.
Juan Gonzalez, Vice President for Student Affairs, has kept me well informed on this issue. I have asked him to convene a committee composed of all major constituencies to discuss all aspects of the policy on residence hall room signs and make recommendations on any changes that need to be made. The interim rule allowing signage in individual students' residence hall room windows will remain in place until the committee issues its report and I act upon their recommendations.
William Powers, Jr.
President
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
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