Lawsuits are ALWAYS implied, especially following correspondence from an attorney. Nice work, Zeb. A. Leon Polhill, Gator "I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know." - Mark Twain
________________________________ From: John Vega <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, April 15, 2010 2:32:22 PM Subject: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: UF will allow film students to use Haiti footage [Crabbe] On Apr 15, 2010, at 8:28 AM, Shane Ford wrote: The students returned anyway, saying they believed it was allowed because they used private money. UF Provost Joe Glover later said that allowing the footage to be used in the thesis would have defied the purpose of the travel policy. Bougher said the university relented only after his lawyer, Gary Edinger, sent a letter threatening a lawsuit. As did I, albeit without the lawsuit threat. -Zeb ------------------ Begin forwarded message: From: "Glover,Joseph" <[email protected]> >Date: March 31, 2010 8:22:07 PM EDT >To: John Vega <[email protected]> >Cc: "Glover,Joseph" <[email protected]> >Subject: RE: [SUN]: UF students run afoul of UF's Haiti travel ban [Crabbe] > >Dear Mr. Vega, > >Thank you for your email regarding the University of Florida’s policy on >student travel to >Haitihttp://www.admin.ufl.edu/ddd/default.asp?doc=15.8.2467.2 The policy was >based, and continues to be based, on advisories from competent experts in >state and federal government, in particular the U.S. Department of State. The >Department of State Travel Warning, dated March 30, states in part, “The >Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Haiti.” >The full text of the travel warning is available >at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4632.html > >In light of these advisories, and in view of the University of Florida’s >primary responsibility to promote and maintain the well-being of its students, >we made the decision to restrict “UF-sanctioned, -sponsored, or –approved >trips for students to Haiti.” We will review this policy on a regular basis, >although we anticipate it will remain in place until conditions change and >competent experts advise that travel to Haiti presents a reasonable risk for >UF students. > >Had either of the two students been injured or killed while in Haiti, we would >be having a very different conversation. The university, and the professors >who encouraged them to go back to Haiti, would be blamed for being reckless >and irresponsible. We must make our decisions, although sometimes unpopular, >with our students’ well-being in mind. > >Sincerely yours, >Joe Glover, Provost > > ________________________________ From: John Vega [[email protected]] >Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 11:45 AM >To: Glover,Joseph; [email protected] >Subject: Re: [SUN]: UF students run afoul of UF's Haiti travel ban [Crabbe] > > >Mr. Glover and Ms. Telles-Irvin, > > >As nothing more than an interested UF alumnus (College of Law), I've read the >stated travel ban regarding Haiti and the matter of the students filming a >documentary in that country. To be frank, the ban reads more like a disclaimer >than an actual travel ban. > > >Given potential liability concerns, I can fully understand why UF adopted this >policy: > > > > > > 2. Travel to Haiti > 2/5/2010 > > > Joe Glover, Provost & Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President for Student >Affairs > > >Based on an assessment of risk and on advice from the federal and state >governments, we are adopting the following policy until further notice: >There are to be no UF-sanctioned, -sponsored, or -approved trips for students >to Haiti. >Faculty and staff who wish to travel to Haiti to render assistance, to pursue >research, or to otherwise act in their professional capacities as employees or >representatives of UF must receive prior approval for the trip from Lynn >Frazier, David Sammons, or the Provost. >Faculty and staff who do not receive such approval but who nevertheless choose >to travel to Haiti on unpaid or annual leave should make clear that they are >acting without the approval or sanction of the university and do not represent >the university. > > >However, I have a hard time reading this policy and concluding that >information gained during a non-sanctioned, non-sponsored and unapproved trip >could not be included in one's thesis. I read it more along this lines of >"cancel UF-sanctioned activities in Haiti" (such as exchange programs or >University-sponsored charity work). > > >It would seem that faculty who have had prior approval denied could still >visit Haiti during the ban, so long as they make it clear that they are acting >without the approval or sanction of the University and do not represent it, >and utilize whatever information they learn or material they obtain to augment >their future course materials. It would seem inapposite to deny UF students >the same option. The fact that "students" are not referenced in the final two >paragraphs would seem to imply that their freedoms are greater than the >limitations placed upon faculty; not lesser. > > >There is a big difference between these two sentences: > > >"There are to be no UF-sanctioned, -sponsored, or -approved trips for students >to Haiti." >(a position taken to limit UF's potential liability) > > >and > > >"There are to be no trips for UF students to Haiti." >(a complete travel ban) > > >In my opinion, UF should respect the difference between the two sentences and >not rewrite this policy ex post facto. > > >-John Vega > > >-- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us To unsubscribe, reply using "remove me" as the subject.
