[Peace-discuss] U of I ethics says employees cannot wearpolitical buttons

[Randall Cotton]

http://news-gazette.com/news/2008/09/25/restrictions_on_politicking_upset_ui_faculty

Restrictions on politicking upset UI faculty
By Christine Des Garennes
Thursday September 25, 2008

Got a new Obama or McCain button you want to wear around the University of
Illinois campus?

Want to circulate Democratic or Republican fliers on the Quad?

If you're a university employee, both of those activities are a no-no.

A memo sent to UI employees last week has raised the ire of some faculty
members. The message cautions faculty and staff against wearing political
campaign buttons, attending a candidate or party-specific rally on campus
or participating in other political activity.

"I wouldn't put a campaign notice on the door of my office, but I don't
see my body as university property," said Cary Nelson, about wearing
buttons or T-shirts favoring a candidate or political party.

Nelson, a UI emeritus English professor and president of the American
Association of University Professors, e-mailed faculty Wednesday about the
university's guidelines, pointing out that as the guidelines read,
students can attend political rallies on campus, but faculty cannot.
Nelson said the rules interfere with the educational process and can
infringe on an employee's extramural political speech.

In light of the hotly contested presidential election, UI President B.
Joseph White said the message was sent out "to remind people not to use
university resources for political purposes."

"I think that we have a well-intended law on the books that had, as a
goal, preventing abuses, and I'm supportive of that," said White,
referring to the 2003 State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

According to that statute, state employees "shall not intentionally
misappropriate any state property or resources by engaging in any
prohibited political activity for the benefit of any campaign for elective
office or any political organization."

"The law doesn't talk about attending rallies, wearing a button or putting
a bumper sticker on your car. So the university basically issued a rather
silly statement," Nelson said.

"But it's worrisome. It's in writing and official policy."

The message to employees stated that the ethics office does not intend to
police them, but Nelson asked, "What does it mean about selective
enforcement, about five years from now?"

Using a jaywalking analogy, White admitted that although jaywalking is
prohibited in some towns, sometimes he does it.

His take on the issue? "Let common sense prevail."

"The university has no desire to hinder anyone's freedom of expression,"
White said.



Restrictions on political activity

Excerpts from a University of Illinois e-mail to show what is and is not
banned on campus:

Prohibited political activity

- Wearing a pin or T-shirt in support of the Democratic Party or
Republican Party, or a Democratic/Republican candidate.

- A supervisor requiring an employee to engage in political activity
outside of work.

- Distributing, producing or posting fliers or other campaign literature
on campus during lunch or break time.

- Registering employees to vote in a booth that is clearly designated to
one political party or candidate.

Acceptable political activity

- Wearing a pin encouraging others to vote that is not specific to any
particular party or candidate.

- An employee independently choosing to engage in political activities
outside of work.

- Distributing, producing or posting fliers or other campaign literature
at an off-campus location during lunch or break time.

- Registering employees to vote while on their lunch or other designated
breaks in a party-neutral booth.

Specific examples of things that are expressly prohibited include:

- Placing a collection jar on your desk or even in a break room to solicit
funds for a specific political candidate or party.

- Attending a rally on university property specific to a political
candidate or party - regardless of whether or not you are on university ti
me.