Doesn't Bode Well For Students

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By Dominique Cambou

Here at UT it is imperative to fight for your right to speak. UT officials have and will work to quiet student voices: they promote students' self-censorship, take away open spaces for congregations of large groups, and add a dizzying list of rules and bureaucracy to regulate student expression. An orderly campus is more important to UT officials than open, spontaneous discussion that is essential for discovery and growth.

Freshman Orientation:

During Freshman Orientation seminars, the University begins to launch the institution's official opinions pitch. Instead of laying a neutral foundation from which students and professors can feel free to express their opinions, they're setting a stage of pre-conceived ideas. This hints a warning to those with differing opinions: anything you say could somehow, somewhere offend someone - or worse, it could hurt UT's manufactured image.

It is clear that through these seminars, UT intends to achieve two goals: one is to paint a picture of a diversity-loving campus and another is to welcome underrepresented students. But if UT is truly dedicated to improving diversity, it should implement policies that do just that. Instead, the UT-system lobbies to eliminate the Top 10 Percent Law, raises tuition, and most importantly ignores student input about their education.

No matter what opinions the University sells, the First Amendment assures your right to articulate ideas and gives others an equal right to respond. Unfettered debate among free individuals lays the foundation for achieving the goals of higher education and academic freedom.

Architectural Remodeling:

Through architectural remodeling of the campus, the University has sidestepped issues about the right to assemble by taking away the ability to assemble.

One example occurred in 1974 when the West Mall experienced its share of crowd-control tactics; it was transformed from an open grassy field to a concrete space full of planter boxes and an imposing fountain.

At the end of the West Mall, the fountain takes away a natural arena for the ideas of students, faculty, and the public. Before its existence, impromptu speakers would stand on the Union steps while listeners congregated in the area where the fountain lies today. Its slanted walls even prevent students from sitting around it. The fountain, the planter boxes, and a whole mess of stone parapet walls create an awkward but controlled walkway. Once again, the university chokes free flowing speech in the name of tidiness.

The Main Mall:

The largest, most centralized area left on campus is the Main Mall. It is located on the side of the Tower that faces the Capitol. However, UT officials prefer to keep the Main Mall as a visual symbol of their image of the University and make it the most difficult area for students to demonstrate. Students are not allowed to set up exhibits there between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. They cannot set up tables or hang banners. The rules of conduct in the Main Mall limit student activity to quiet and orderly movement.

One recent event demonstrates the University's ludicrous approach to free speech on campus. Last April, students were taught not to use the space to criticize the University. UT Watch brought together several student groups to hold an Affordable Education Campout to support affordable education and free speech bills in the Texas Legislature. There were several bills that proposed keeping tuition affordable and another that would have allowed students to demonstrate anywhere on campus as long as they were not disturbing classes. The campout was to draw attention to these student issues.

UT officials and the UT Police Department constantly hounded the campers. Tents could not stay up during the day because they were considered exhibits. The administrators took student names and even tried to enforce non-existent rules about sleeping on campus. For hanging a single banner on the Main Mall steps during the campout, UT Watch is now prohibited from hanging banners on campus for at least this fall semester. The event attracted a large amount of attention from the press and surrounding community as well as support from legislators such as Texas State Senators Rodney Ellis and Tommy Williams.

In the past, other groups have gathered and camped out on similarly unauthorized zones on campus, but they received no harassment from university officials. As a matter of fact, the Associate Dean of Students, Margarita Arellano, even participated in such an event to promote a MEChA camp for East Austin residents. However, during the Affordable Education Campout, she attempted to intimidate the demonstrators involved. The difference in the scenarios was the students' message: these other events did not directly criticize the University. Students have slept overnight on campus many times, from promoting Habitat for Humanity events to an overnight vigil for Martin Luther King. But if you hold an event that ruffles their feathers, just know the administration will look to intimidate and silence you.

As a student, always be on the lookout for the University's underhanded tactics to mute your voice. Call them out on their cowardly efforts to stunt academic growth and make this campus your own.