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

[Randall Cotton]

DI Editorial follows

It seems everyone feels many will disregard the ludicrous, over-reaching
restrictions and that there will be no enforcement. But as long as the
original memo is not revoked or amended, I think the chilling effect
remains.

R

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Randall Cotton" <recotton at earthlink.net>
To: <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 12:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] U of I ethics says employees cannot
wearpoliticalbuttons


:
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.
:
:
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