Breaking the Small Business Code

NO Limits on College Political Speech - Part 3

       Per this morning's Inside Higher Education, the University of Illinois President  B. Joseph White sent an eMail affirming the right of employees to wear campaign buttons and attend political rallies on campus.  He said that university policy would not bar attending partisan rallies on campus, wearing political buttons, or having political bumper stickers on cars. 

     HOWEVER, he did say that these activities should not take place while employees are on duty [I bolded the phrase for emphasis].

     Gotta love those "wiggle phrases".  So President White, what constitutes "on duty" for a professor?  When are they "off duty" when at their campus worksplace? Can they wear their buttons when on "company" business off-campus? Is this how will you make sure your TAX-EXEMPT nonpolitical status is protected?

     Per my Blog on October 3, I had no objection to academic freedom of speech within the classroom. BUT I do think that University employees - and by this I mean mostly professors -- should be required to meet the same levels of neutrality WHEN IN THEIR WORKPLACE AND WORKING that I as a private citizen and employer also need to follow! The tax-exempt status of a state operated university should be held to the same standards!

     Having grown up on college campuses I can smell that this is a CYA eMail.  I know there will be little (if any!) attempt to enforce the off-duty requirement.  So professors will continue to do what they have always done  under the banner of  "academic freedom".  The university's nonprofit status is supposedly now protected by the insertion of the "off duty" phrase. 

    If I read about enforcement of the off duty requirement I will apologize.  But until then, I see this as another way professors will be allowed to break the rules that rest of us have to follow setting a bad example for our college students. 

Limits on Political Speech at Colleges - Part 2

 

    Yesterday, October 2,  students and faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign held a rally to show support for the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. In addition to showing their support, the goal was to show that the faculty will not follow guidelines issued by the university that bar them from rallies or wearing political buttons on campus. (See the Chicago Tribune for great report on the event).

     Per the article, the university says it isn’t enforcing the guidelines, which it says are required by state law.

     I admit that bothers me more than the predictable reaction of the professors. Why tell your employees about a rule if you aren't planning to enforce it!  That is CYA hypocrisy at its best. If someone complains about the violations the state will point to the rules - "gee guys, not our problem if those independent thinkers at the college don't want to follow the rules".  The university will then say it is "working with the state to clarify their intention".  A perfect dance trying to have it both ways!

    As I predicted in my September 24, 2008 Blog, the professors say that the guidelines unreasonably limit their freedom of expression:

     "They're trying to control our bodies and our voices any time we're on campus. These policies are clearly a violation of our 1st Amendment rights," said Dan Colson, an English graduate student who, along with other students, professors and free-speech experts, has lashed out.  Colson and others argue the University of Illinois was unfairly expanding state law.

     Here is the phrase from Colson that summarizes this and other debates on what laws should we PRIVATE citizens and businesses follow that ACADEMICS should not.  Per Colson:

" . . . that academic freedom meant campus communities should not be held to the same standards as other state employees."

     I appreciate the need for "academic freedom" as the daugher of a retired college dean but no offense guys, I need freedom in my business too!  But I am NOT allowed to say and do things that you are allowed to say and do at your workplace.  I cannot voice or demonstrate my personal feelings on many social and political issues because it is often ILLEGAL. 

     Per the State of Illinois, you have been notified your "workplace" has rules on endorsing candidates that jepoardizes the workplace's tax-free basis.  Yet you have decided you know best and will not follow those policies.  I see your point and I agree and I disagree.

     You have the right of free speech BUT you give up some of that freedom in exchange for a job.  I agree that there needs to be a more flexible standard on campus to allow for frank exchanges in a classroom on topics of concern.  However, I do not see that as being extended to a PERSONAL demonstration of support as in a rally or wearing a button until you leave the workplace.

    This is an important issue that needs to be discussed.  Where is the line between academic speech and unlimited speech exist for a college campus and ITS EMPLOYEES?  Where is that line compared to my freedom of speech in my workplace?

     And even more importantly, should professors be allowed to flout the rules and policies of their employer (the taxpayer in this case since this is a STATE university)?  Should they be allowed to do things you and I cannot simply because of where they work and what they do?  Should "academic freedom" be so broad that they can break the law with impunity compared to you and I?

    Let's chat!  I want everyone's opinion - colleges and private citizens.