Posted by Eugene Volokh:
No Controversial Speech at the College, Please:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2005_06_12-2005_06_18.shtml#1118856668
[1]The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education -- whose
assertions I've generally found to be quite trustworthy, and which
backs them up with links to original documents -- writes:
[Eliana] Campos� tribulations began on March 23, 2005, when she
went to [Seminole Community College] Student Activities Specialist
Gail Agor to request permission to sit at a table and pass out
literature from PETA. Agor refused her request and later justified
it by writing, �Eliana, maybe you wouldn�t insult or yell, but PETA
instills a feeling in me that I can�t, and won�t, take a chance on
campus. [sic] ... I feel this is a set up for conflict.� She told
Campos that she would only be allowed to �stand and speak freely�
about her beliefs in the college�s tiny and ill-defined �free
speech area.� . . .
FIRE wrote to SCC President E. Ann McGee on April 18, pointing out
that Agor�s decision constituted discrimination against the
student�s views and that SCC�s free speech zone policy was
unconstitutional. In a response, Vice President James D. Henningsen
wrote that Agor�s comments were not �authorized,� and that future
requests would be considered on a content-neutral basis. However,
he attached to his letter e-mails indicating that Campos could
protest only in the free speech zone, and that only �registered
student organizations� could table in the café.
Campos repeatedly requested a written copy of the alleged policy
restricting café tables to student organizations, but was supplied
only with another copy of the free speech zone policy -- which does
not mention the café. FIRE criticized SCC�s inability to produce
the supposed student organizations-only policy in a June 7 reply to
Henningsen, but has received no reply. . . .
Really, though I don't understand why [2]PETA literature would set
anything up for conflict.
References
1. http://thefire.org/index.php/article/5773.html
2. http://mtd.com/tasty/
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