The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education — whose assertions I’ve generally found to be quite trustworthy, and which backs them up with links to original documents — writes:
[Eliana] Campos’ tribulations began on March 23, 2005, when she went to [Seminole Community College] Student Activities Specialist Gail Agor to request permission to sit at a table and pass out literature from PETA. Agor refused her request and later justified it by writing, “Eliana, maybe you wouldn’t insult or yell, but PETA instills a feeling in me that I can’t, and won’t, take a chance on campus. [sic] … I feel this is a set up for conflict.” She told Campos that she would only be allowed to “stand and speak freely” about her beliefs in the college’s tiny and ill-defined “free speech area.” . . .
FIRE wrote to SCC President E. Ann McGee on April 18, pointing out that Agor’s decision constituted discrimination against the student’s views and that SCC’s free speech zone policy was unconstitutional. In a response, Vice President James D. Henningsen wrote that Agor’s comments were not “authorized,” and that future requests would be considered on a content-neutral basis. However, he attached to his letter e-mails indicating that Campos could protest only in the free speech zone, and that only “registered student organizations” could table in the café.
Campos repeatedly requested a written copy of the alleged policy restricting café tables to student organizations, but was supplied only with another copy of the free speech zone policy — which does not mention the café. FIRE criticized SCC’s inability to produce the supposed student organizations-only policy in a June 7 reply to Henningsen, but has received no reply. . . .
Really, though I don’t understand why PETA literature would set anything up for conflict.
UPDATE: FIRE reports that “Just hours after the story broke, FIRE received a letter from SCC indicating that the college would now allow Campos to distribute her literature outside of the free speech zone and on equal terms with other students and student groups. SCC has also promised to review and recommend changes to its speech policies to ensure students’ constitutional rights are respected.” Pleased to hear it.
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