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* This is a classic case of Barney Fife bureaucrats running amok…
Sporting an Obama or McCain button? Driving a car with one of the campaigns’ bumper stickers? You might need to be careful on University of Illinois campuses.
The university system’s ethics office sent a notice to all employees, including faculty members, telling them that they could not wear political buttons on campus or feature bumper stickers on cars parked in campus lots unless the messages on those buttons and stickers were strictly nonpartisan. In addition, professors were told that they could not attend political rallies on campuses if those rallies express support for a candidate or political party. […]
Nelson and other professors are circulating a draft statement outlining their objections to the ethics rules. “Although these rules are not at present being enforced, the AAUP deplores their chilling effect on speech, their interference with the educational process, and their implicit castigation of normal practice during political campaigns,” the draft says. […]
Lillich, the system spokesman, said he knew of no controversies over inappropriate political activity that might have prompted the rules.
* IlliniPundit asks…
Surely the UI can’t be this stupid. Right?
Your answer?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:20 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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As an employee of the agency getting wacked the hardest by this gov. I KNOW we cannot wear such buttons. We also cannot speak against any policy or decision made by the administration while on work time or in uniform, or even off duty on state property. Some of us who are on call 24/7 are also cautioned not to speak against any decision or policy in a public place where people know where we are employed. The idea being, we are always on the clock. Political signs cannot be in our vehicle windows while they are parked on state property.
Comment by Irish Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:28 pm
It appears Mayor Daley needs to recruit whoever is making the rules for UI to work for the City because they seem to be almost as good at passing stupid restrictive laws, rules and revenue streams as his administration.
Illinois is a breeding ground for nannyism. Perhaps we need to export our expertise so all states can feel our pain.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:33 pm
I work at a different state university, in a non-faculty position…..does this mean I have to take off my “Rewrite to Do Right” bumper sticker?
Actually, I’ve had an Obama sticker on my car for 14 months now. How can they enforce what is on my personal property in a parking lot I pay to park in?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:35 pm
Obviously an over reaction to something.
I am curious as to what caused the over reaction.
Comment by Speaking At Will Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:35 pm
Yes, they can be that stupid.
Goodness knows there never has been any conversation on college campuses regarding politics. UI must feel they need to nip the basic American tenet of freedom of speech in the bud before students, and faculty, become involved in issues that will affect their futures.
I will, however, pay good money to watch the UI Thought Police sanction someone with an Obama sticker on their personal car.
Comment by Stupid Is As Stupid Does Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:38 pm
It’s a bureaucracy. Of course, it can be that stupid.
Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:40 pm
The university system in the United States is one of the wonders of the world, an engine of enlightenment.
But universities are filled with brain-dead, cretinous, Stalinist administrators who couldn’t run a fruit stand. How in God’s name can you stand for the unrestrained pursuit of knowledge and truth while at the same time restraining freedom of expression? And how in the world is expressing your opinion a violation of ethics?
It’s mind-boggling.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:47 pm
“Actually, I’ve had an Obama sticker on my car for 14 months now. How can they enforce what is on my personal property in a parking lot I pay to park in?” They can stop you from smoking in said car, so they could probably try to ban you sticker. Freedom is disappearing all over.
Comment by wizard Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:55 pm
Yes They Can!
Comment by Ahoy Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 12:58 pm
==They can stop you from smoking in said car==
Five words: From My Cold, Dead Hands!
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:05 pm
There are always bureaucrats and administrators who try to push stupid rules onto students. So now, they’re trying to do it to faculty.
Doesn’t surprise me.
I remember when I was there, the Administration thought the greatest idea evah was to tattle on students who get ticketed for alcohol-related violations.
Seriously, the University would call a legal adult’s mommy or daddy if the adult got busted for underage consumption or some other alcohol related violation.
Drink underage, get caught, and some adminstrator is going to call your mommy and daddy on you.
My folks would have told the University to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.
University administrators, all the way up to the Chancellor, the Provost, and the Dean, are all very stupid people.
Comment by jerry 101 Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:12 pm
Welcome to the New World Order…USSA
Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:12 pm
Okay ! Here’s the Plan - We can thin the ranks of all those left wing liberal commies, all we need is a few hundred McCain Palin bumper stickers and a volunteer to “visit” the campus faculty parking lots. What a great policy !
Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:19 pm
Yes, they can. This is only about the third time Joe “Private Sector” White and Richard “Pee Wee” Herman and all of their high priced help have had a collision at the intersection at the corner of Common Sense Street and Constitutional Rights Drive. Last year it was trying to censor the Chief float in the Homecoming parade. Before that it was rescinding already awarded MBA scholarships to Iraq war veterans because some nitwit in the Business school was worried about too many (his words, not AA’s) “jarheads” in the program.
Would be nice if White would spend some time in the office instead of jetting around attending corporate Board meetings and Herman spent some time sweating the details instead of figuring out another way to get his ugly mug on the Jumbotron at Memorial Stadium.
Just more collateral damage of Blago governance.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:20 pm
Sure they can. But why? Did someone actually show up with a McCain/Palin sticker on their car? Just the other day, some professor out East was trying to give students credit hours for “volunteering” for the Obama campaign. Wonder how the UofI looks at that?
Comment by BehindTheScenes Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:24 pm
Wait, is this the same U of I that took years and millions of dollars to decide to retire the Chief?
Comment by What planet is he from again? Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:29 pm
And this is the same people that refused to release the Obama papers from the library in Chicago. Stupid is as stupid does. I guess I’ll have to scrape the Nobama sticker off my gas guzzler…..
Comment by Ernest T. Bass Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:41 pm
I am hiding today so as not to get into trouble with the bosses.
I have received that email in the past and was (am) happy for it, and the rule. That is partly because of my experiences on campus as a minority (conservative). I have sat in several classes where I was the lone conservative voice. Occasionally (one particular Educational Policy Studies class springs to mind), the far left side of the room would try to shout me down, but I knew the professor would not, and because of this rule, could not.
In the classroom, it actually preserves the free flow of ideas. It keeps people in authority (professors) from stifling the debate of those who disagree with their point of view. It also lessens the likelihood that a student’s viewpoint will be used as evaluative criteria. There is, in reality, a very short fall from professors politicking in class to what was reported out of Amherst where students who work for a particular candidate would receive independent study credit simply for doing so. Even wearing a pin or hanging a poster in their office space can be very intimidating for those under that person’s authority, whether a student or a worker in an office on campus.
To those hyperventilating about free speech rights, no ones voice is really being silenced here. What this rule does is make it so that you cannot exercise your free speech rights and get paid AT THE SAME TIME. (You have a right to free speech, not a right to a paycheck, regardless of what liberals would like the masses to believe.) This rule is not only not unique to UI, but also just common sense (realizing, of course, that the two least common things in America today are common sense and common courtesy).
Learning takes place best in an environment of free flowing ideas, not one where a student’s views can be used against them by people who have authority over them. Like every rule everywhere, this rule does go to far, but as we have heard several times this week the alternative is worse.
Comment by withheld Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:54 pm
Does this mean that a staff member can’t be a faculty advisor to the College Democrats or College Republicans. Because I know for a fact that a staff advisor is required at all 3 campuses for a group to exist.
Comment by lj Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:55 pm
=== What this rule does is make it so that you cannot exercise your free speech rights and get paid AT THE SAME TIME.===
Not quite.
They ain’t getting paid while they’re driving their bumper sticker-laden cars to work, are they? Or attending a rally in between classes? Etc.
That’s not common sense we can believe in. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:58 pm
==What this rule does is make it so that you cannot exercise your free speech rights and get paid AT THE SAME TIME.==
How does having a bumper sticker on your personal care fit this criteria?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 1:59 pm
Here is the link to “Ethics Matter” from the U of I with the full language:
http://www.ethics.uillinois.edu/
ethicsmatters/4-0908-ProhibPolitAct.cfm
Comment by SangamoGOP Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:10 pm
As I said, the rule does go too far, especially in light of parking being about five miles away from campus buildings. Rallies during working times (or what passes for working hours for professors) are much more problematic, and difficult to police. Who gets to take off for which rally? Do you really take vacation time? Does a staff member speak for the U? Is there preferential treatment in a campus unit for a particular cause or candidate? The empty suits at are able to write one line forbidding it instead of actually thinking and making a nuanced and more reasoned (and reasonable) policy that would run four pages.
Besides, long ago, my dad gave me some sage advice about all this: Three things you should never to talk about in public are politics, religion and sex; If someone is not happy with what they are getting, they will just get mad over it. (I did clean that up just for you, Rich!)
Comment by withheld Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:29 pm
Every state university employee is in fact a state employee. The State Officials and Employee Ethics Act prohibits specific activities. U of I is just covering itself so as to not bring down the wrath of an IG due to a complaint of violation of the Act. Ethical conduct and political activity, as we all know, are neither synonymous nor compatible.
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:33 pm
If you are on the clock, they can dictate your actions, fair enough. But off-the-clock, your time should be your own. Why wouldn’t you be able to attend a public rally on public property on your lunch hour?
With respect to specifics (thanks for the link SGOP): Prohibited “Wearing a pin or t-shirt in support of the Democratic Party or Republican Party, or a Democratic/Republican candidate” what about the Green Party? (where’s Squid?) Prohibited: “Distributing, producing, or posting flyers or other campaign literature on campus during lunch or break time” if Univ resources were not used, I think this policy violates the 1st amendment, esp. since they say it’s OK off-campus.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:44 pm
This is waay over the top..isn’t this infringing upon their free speech?
Good thing my GA position ended in the spring..I would be found unethical.
Comment by scoot Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 2:57 pm
UI does seem to go farther than other agencies I know. The federal government agency for whom I now work has a similar policy. You are allowed to drive and park with bumper stickers for your personal commute, but if you use your car for official business, the bumper sticker has to get covered up somehow. Otherwise, the policies seem to match. Perhaps Illinois was taking its cue from the feds.
And I have to agree with withheld. Campus debate in classrooms are rarely the “spirit of free debate” that administrators extol. At most campuses, conservative voices are very marginalized in the classroom, and definitely within the faculty. Prohibiting professors from decorating their offices with partisan banners is hardly suppression of academic freedom or stifling of debate.
Comment by South Side Mike Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:16 pm
This kind of rule certainly doesn’t apply to IDOT. The Collinsville office parking lot looks like DNC headquarters - bumper stickers (all democrat oddly enough), station wagons full of Jay Hoffman signs with wooden stakes already attached. Nope, certainly no sign of cronyism at IDOT.
Comment by David Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:32 pm
Time and place restrictions on the right to free speech are common and justified with much historical precedence. To use the oldest example, you have no free speech protection to yell “FIRE!” in a packed theater and you probably will get arrested.
The university, in this case, has issued time and place restrictions. Some of them are certainly justified — specifically, a professor in a classroom should not be able to overtly campaign or communicate his/her preference for a political party or candidate. A professor is in a position of authority in the classroom and makes judgements as to who will pass and fail. Allowing a professor to “campaign” in class would have a chilling effect on students who found them opposed to the professor’s views. (Ironically, professors opposed to this rule will say it has a chilling effect on them.)
Some of the rules delineated, however, do not seem justified. A bumper sticker on a car in the parking lot, for instance, would not appear to be a Constitutionally-appropriate time and place restriction. If it were, it theoretically would apply to all state-owned or leased parking lots. And if that were the case, half of the car owners parked next to the Stratton and Capitol buildings would need to be reprimanded.
Likewise, a ban on political activities on campus by employees and/or faculty would appear to be difficult to enforce and potentially unconstitutional. Sure, if the employee was attending or helping with a rally on the clock, then there’s a clear violation. But if a candidate is holding a rally after-hours, on the weekend, or even during a weekday if the employee has properly taken time off, then not only should it be allowed, it must be allowed.
I loved the question about the faculty advisors for College Dems and Repubs, I really wonder what the administration response to that would be.
I think the admin is getting nitpicky and they’re wringing their hands over something that doesn’t need much attention, overall, aside from things that happen in the classroom. Another commenter was right that this is a reaction to something, and I also am curious what the reaction is to. My guess is that Mark Shelden and the College Repubs caused a stink as the campus is notoriously liberal.
Comment by Gadfly Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:45 pm
If this prevents calls for vandalism, I see why they did it. Still silly, but some peole will listen
Comment by Admiral Wumpus Akbar Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 3:48 pm
They can make rules against electioneering on their property during working hours. As they are employees are representatives of the university, the university has a right to minimize any perception that the university is endorsing any party or candidate through its employees and representatives.
Probably, they are trying to stave off boneheaded stunts like this:
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/region
al/general/view/2008_09_23_UMass_
chaplain_fails_in_effort_to_boost_Barack_Obama_s_chances/
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:13 pm
U of I may only be trying to protect their NFP status. Any show of partisanship by an employee during working hours may be attributed to the University. I know 501(c)(3)’s have similar restrictions.
Comment by Illini Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:16 pm
I’m glad someone posted the link also - I was getting ready to. I don’t mind the provisions during working hours - that’s fine. The problem I have, along with the professors, is my OWN TIME.
“Attending a rally on University property specific to a political candidate or party - regardless of whether or not you are on University time.”
What I do on my own time is my own business. I can understand it if I come in on my own time to my office and do some kind of political activity. It ties the University to a political campaign. But if I am going to a debate (with the candidates) or even a forum talking about the issues of the election while there is partisan information present that is at…the Union, I shouldn’t have to be restricted in going because it’s on university property. Most of the time that is where ALL THE FORUMS, RALLIES, EVENTS ARE due to the space required to have a large amounts of people. Until recently, there were very limited places you could go without costing a lot of money.
The campus is a great place to present (sometimes cheaply if a student group is hosting) a myraid of ideas whether it be a rally or a forum or debate.
As for the bumper sticker, that’s absolutely stupid. The university doesn’t own the car and I don’t use it for business.
Thanks Rich I’m done.
Comment by Central IL Stater Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 4:20 pm
Captain Flume hits the nail on the head, I think. As a state employee who is mandated to take an annual ethics test (or review the rules), I’m guessing U of I administrators are just doing the CYA thing. While the letter of the law is oft ignored in favor of common sense, common sense left Illinois about six years ago.
Comment by cynically anonymous Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:17 pm
There’s a bigger problem as well in that intellectual freedom is sort of the entire point of a university.
The 501(c)3 status is irrelevant. It does not preclude employee action–it precludes entity action. Pastors endorse all of the time even though their churches do not.
Universities often over interpret the rules (Wash U does as well, though not in the same direction). If the current ethics rules apply as people say they do, we need to change them especially in regards to universities. Advisors to clubs are a perfect example–the standard shouldn’t be to allow anything, it should be to create a level playing field for all participation. For employees that has to extend one step further to banning fundraising on campus property, but otherwise the mission of the institution is to argue about ideas.
I’ve been known to take very conservative positions in class simply to get discussion going and challenge students to question the assumptions they make about the world. The rules as applied above could well limit that sort of activity in class as well.
There’s a pretty simple standard to set–don’t do political work on state time or use state resources. If there is an event on campus that is partisan, any participation must be off work hours and then you are treated as any other member of the community. This isn’t hard.
Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:31 pm
As a student who recently worked on a campaign, the administration at the University of Illinois told me that i couldn’t send emails from my student account advocating for the candidate I worked for so I can see this happening to educators as well. I think its all a disgrace.
Comment by Frank Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:52 pm
Very well stated, Larry. I don’t know why it’s so hard for this group of people to grasp, even wrapped on the rubric of “ethics.”
I don’t think the rules need to be changed, just change a few Assistant Deputy Vice Lieutenant Chancellors who don’t get it and add a little more oversight from the few folks in the ivory tower over there who do get it (Hello, Tom Hardy-What are we paying you for?) and perhaps the Big U won’t fill the messkit again.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 5:59 pm
State employees were never allowed to wear political buttons. I realize some state agencies w/ elected officials, like the SOS, played by different rules. But, at DHS/formerly IDPA , we were then and now not allowed to display any political paraphernalia. Using state equipment for political purposes is grounds for dismissal. There was a high-ranking Chicago cop who took a similiar position at state police who was dismissed for using a state copier for making political flyers a few years back.
Comment by Emily Booth Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 7:51 pm
The button rule is tolerable - only in classroom/ academic settings. The bumper sticker rule is an infringelemnt on personal political freedom to express one’s opinion.
Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 7:56 pm
Another tough one. I think BehindTheScenes is right to a certain degree. I read the article about credit for volunteering for an Obama campaign and thought it was silly. Credit, if it’s to be given out, should be provided to ANYONE volunteering for ANY campaign. The credit should be aligned with the experience of working on A campaign v. a specific campaign based on the Professor’s personal preference.
With regard to UofI, I’ve heard several former students complain about how “left” UofI has become and how difficult it is to get anything going on campus that’s more centric or off to the right. Professors just won’t support it.
Therefore, I’m going to guess that the move is a reminder that the University should be focused on providing an environment that supports healthy debates on ALL positions, which is more conducive to learning (and thinking) v. outputting a bunch of students who are capable only repeating the party line and crumble during debates in the face of opposition.
While the bumper sticker rule seems a little excessive, they’re probably just trying to emphasize the importance of staying “personally neutral” for the sake of education.
And yes, I’d say that even if UofI was currently mroe off to the right than the left.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 9:52 pm
(Just a little) off-topic:
Why do conservatives get so bent out of shape about “leftism” on college campuses? Do they think that the students get mind-control implants and are lost politically forever? Are they that scared of liberalism’s merits compromising their young followers’ minds?
Furthermore, I went to UW-Madison, the “bastion of liberalism.” Here’s what I learned in a few of my classes:
1) Mutual assured destruction (”MAD”) is sound foreign policy. Period.
2) Writing a paper for a conservative teacher’s assistant critiquing the National Review gets you a C+.
3) Creationists take paleontology and get good grades in it.
Go figure.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Wednesday, Sep 24, 08 @ 10:56 pm
Lefy, I don’t know whether you’re responding to my post, but I’ll just state for the record that I’m certainly not a conservative and I think everyone on this blog knows that. (Actually, I’m what many in my Party would affectionately refer to–right or wrong–as a “RINO”.) I also know that many are more liberal during their younger years and often have a tendency to move a bit more to the right as they get older. Not necessarily to the point where they switch parties, but the process of aging often puts a bit of a dent in idealsim.
Everyone also knows that most of the Universities have a slant either to the right or to the left. My argument is that a strong preference in either direction within academia isn’t necessarily a good thing for education–just as I believe you might have been trying to point out.
I believe that kids should be taught–and supported–to analyze situations from all perspectives, draw their own conclusions and take their own stand. Perhaps UofI is simply, in it’s own awkward way, trying to accomplish that.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 6:32 am
Wasn’t the question regarding how the comment by Lillich was stupid??
Comment by LindaB Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 8:59 am