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Civil Disobedience
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Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Civil Disobedience
A few weeks ago, all University of Illinois faculty and staff received an email from the Ethics Office. With the upcoming presidential election, the University wanted to remind its employees which types of political activity are prohibited. Many of the restrictions are reasonable: don’t use university resources to prepare and circulate campaign materials related to a specific candidate, don’t solicit funds for a political candidate in your office or in the classroom, etc.
However, there were a few prohibitions that drew the ire of many, such as:
Attending a rally on University property specific to a political candidate or party - regardless of whether or not you are on University time
Wearing a pin or t-shirt in support of the Democratic Party or Republican Party, or a Democratic/Republican candidate
Graduate assistants are both employees and students at the same time. While I don't think it would be prudent of me to wear a political button while I’m teaching, I feel that I should be able to do so while I’m walking across the Quad or eating lunch at the Union. I also feel it is my right under the 1st Amendment to attend a political rally for a candidate on campus while I am off the University’s clock.
I’m not the only one who is uncomfortable about the scope of the University’s Ethics code. A heated debate has been brewing on campus for the past couple weeks over them in an attempt to determine the limits of academic freedom, free speech, and state laws. Yesterday afternoon, some graduate students who opposed aspects of the University’s political prohibitions held a rally for Obama on the Quad. While most of us there were Obama supporters, it was less about Obama than it was about protesting the University’s policies. (McCain supporters were urged to hold a rally simultaneously.)
By taking part in this rally, we were in direct violation of University policy. Today I called the Ethics Office and filed a formal ethics violation…against myself. Other participants from the rally yesterday did the same thing. Either the University will take action against us, which will open a legal avenue for settling these issues, or the University will do nothing, which will hopefully force a reexamination of its own laws that it refuses to enforce.
I know in the large view there are an infinite number of things going on in people’s daily lives that are more critical than my desire to wear a button on my jacket. But I also feel that this issue is significant in that free speech - and the government’s regulation of it - is something to be fought for, no matter how small the encroachment on it.
The Chicago Tribune wrote a story about the UIUC rally yesterday. You can see a blurry SallyPants in the background of the photo:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-u-of-i-pol...
The Daily Illini, UIUC’s student newspaper, had a front-page story about it. Wait for the photo to load and you’ll see a hot grad student. I’m in the picture too.
http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736...
Civil Disobedience
A few weeks ago, all University of Illinois faculty and staff received an email from the Ethics Office. With the upcoming presidential election, the University wanted to remind its employees which types of political activity are prohibited. Many of the restrictions are reasonable: don’t use university resources to prepare and circulate campaign materials related to a specific candidate, don’t solicit funds for a political candidate in your office or in the classroom, etc.
However, there were a few prohibitions that drew the ire of many, such as:
Attending a rally on University property specific to a political candidate or party - regardless of whether or not you are on University time
Wearing a pin or t-shirt in support of the Democratic Party or Republican Party, or a Democratic/Republican candidate
Graduate assistants are both employees and students at the same time. While I don't think it would be prudent of me to wear a political button while I’m teaching, I feel that I should be able to do so while I’m walking across the Quad or eating lunch at the Union. I also feel it is my right under the 1st Amendment to attend a political rally for a candidate on campus while I am off the University’s clock.
I’m not the only one who is uncomfortable about the scope of the University’s Ethics code. A heated debate has been brewing on campus for the past couple weeks over them in an attempt to determine the limits of academic freedom, free speech, and state laws. Yesterday afternoon, some graduate students who opposed aspects of the University’s political prohibitions held a rally for Obama on the Quad. While most of us there were Obama supporters, it was less about Obama than it was about protesting the University’s policies. (McCain supporters were urged to hold a rally simultaneously.)
By taking part in this rally, we were in direct violation of University policy. Today I called the Ethics Office and filed a formal ethics violation…against myself. Other participants from the rally yesterday did the same thing. Either the University will take action against us, which will open a legal avenue for settling these issues, or the University will do nothing, which will hopefully force a reexamination of its own laws that it refuses to enforce.
I know in the large view there are an infinite number of things going on in people’s daily lives that are more critical than my desire to wear a button on my jacket. But I also feel that this issue is significant in that free speech - and the government’s regulation of it - is something to be fought for, no matter how small the encroachment on it.
The Chicago Tribune wrote a story about the UIUC rally yesterday. You can see a blurry SallyPants in the background of the photo:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-u-of-i-pol...
The Daily Illini, UIUC’s student newspaper, had a front-page story about it. Wait for the photo to load and you’ll see a hot grad student. I’m in the picture too.
http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736...
:-)
This policy is wrong. I respect everyone's right to protest, burn flags (although my screen name is Rick Monday), etc.
Good Luck Sally!
Furthermore, I think this relates somewhat to Obama's Truth squad which threatens political ads against Obama.
Also...very important...I wanted to tell you that I was at Target today and they have sock puppet slippers in the sock department !
These federal and D.C. employees MAY
* be candidates for public office in nonpartisan elections
* register and vote as they choose
* assist in voter registration drives
* express opinions about candidates and issues
* contribute money to political organizations
* attend political fundraising functions
* attend and be active at political rallies and meetings
* join and be an active member of a political party or club
* sign nominating petitions
* campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, municipal ordinances
* campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections
* make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections
* distribute campaign literature in partisan elections
* hold office in political clubs or parties
These federal and D.C. employees may NOT
* use official authority or influence to interfere with an election
* solicit or discourage political activity of anyone with business before their agency
* solicit or receive political contributions (may be done in certain limited situations by federal labor or other employee organizations)
* be candidates for public office in partisan elections
engage in political activity while:
* on duty
* in a government office
* wearing an official uniform
* using a government vehicle
* wear partisan political buttons on duty
^^^note - I can wear a button if I am not on duty. Keep in mind - while not prohibited - it is still frowned upon to put political bumper stickers on your vehicle if you are on a government installation.
I dont undertand the point about not being able to run for office. Is that true?
http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm
It is called the Hatch Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act_of_1939
Oh and also that's totally cool. You rock!
If you get thrown in the slammer, I promise that I might actually, possibly, with a small degree of certitude, get up there for a visit. And if not, I'll bake you a cake with a file hidden deep inside it- that is, if you don't have a body tattoo of the prison infrastructure :^)
Brian, I've thought along the same lines. I don't see how going to a religious service on campus is different (and there are plenty of on-campus religious affiliates). So while this particular issue may not seem like a big deal to some people, I think it sets a horrible precedent and opens to door for greater erosion of rights.
Not too far from where we held this rally, a preacher was speaking to a good-sized group of students on the Quad. He was a "fire and brimstone, you have to be born again" type of evangelical. And I thought how great was this place where any variety of beliefs could be expressed and discussed.
From the Tribune article:
"The governor's Office of Executive Inspector General, which investigates ethical violations, said it would act on complaints of political activity on college campuses depending on their severity. And it delivered a sweeping twist, saying the state law meant that university students, not just employees, were prohibited from participating in political rallies on campus--an assertion at odds with the University of Illinois' interpretation of the law."
It would be tragic to lose that.
Beany, either I read your comment wrong or we agree on something...it's gotta be the first one, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCgeWUKcumA
I'm proud of you for standing up for what you believe in, honey. Just please don't lose your job and move back home with four cats!! LOL