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

[Wendy Edwards]

Yeah, I personally don't feel that it's appropriate to wear controversial
buttons or T-shirts to work, but it still seems bizarre that the U is trying
to regulate this.

On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 2:15 PM, Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 02:07:08PM -0500, John W. wrote:
> > Does this new rule apply to YOU personally, Stuart?
>
> Sure -- as a UofI employee.  Since I don't often wear candidate or party
> buttons,
> it might not change my immediate behavior.  But I'll still chafe under it,
> and professors and students should chafe even more.  It's inconsistent
> with the tradition of academic freedom.
>
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 2:02 PM, Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 01:32:59PM -0500, Randall Cotton wrote:
> > > > 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
> > >
> > > Yes, absolutely.  And an unenforced rule is worse, as it opens the way
> for
> > > selective enforcement.  If enforced, there'd be more focused opposition
> to
> > > this
> > > thing, and it would likely be overturned.  But as it stands, it might
> stay
> > > on
> > > the books indefinitely, and get exercised only against people for whom
> > > there's
> > > little public sympathy, while chilling the rest of us, as you say.
> > >
> >
> > > > ----- 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
> > > > time.
> > >
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