Via email from daughter Xenia I found out the University of Idaho where our entire family (and Senator Larry [Wide Stance] Craig and Sarah Palin) went to school won the dubious honor of Speech code of the month:
In the University of Idaho’s residence halls, “Actions and/or communication that are discriminatory, harassing or insensitive are not permitted.” (Emphasis added.) This policy prohibits a staggering amount of constitutionally protected speech. In fact, this policy prohibits precisely the speech that the First Amendment exists to protect, since people typically do not seek to censor sensitive, respectful expression. Moving beyond the legal issues, speech codes like this one infantilize college students by assuming they cannot cope with any sort of offense. Do we really want to teach our students that they are entitled to seek punishment for others’ insensitivity? Perhaps in a small city like Moscow, Idaho, students don’t have to deal with much insensitivity on a daily basis, but should they choose to expand their horizons (say, to Philadelphia, for example), they would encounter plenty. And I think it’s safe to say a Philly cop would have a good, long laugh if you asked him or her to arrest a fellow Philadelphian for hurting your feelings.
They also ban carry of firearms on campus which is a big concern of mine because my daughters (and niece) frequently walk to and from class from home. This means they can’t have the best means of personal protection with them should they need it even though they may legally do so off campus.
Words fail me.
She can legally carry on campus. It is a violation of University policy, so there can be expulsion, or other sanctions. Not a violation of state law though. Concealed is concealed. IANAL, ask yours.
The speech code stuff is total BS promulgated by crazy clueless cretins.
*sigh*
IANAL(either), but I agree with Chris and always encourage my fellow Vandals not to do anything illegal. 🙂
Yeah, I know. All three “girls” are adults and make their own decisions. But even explusion would mean something on the order of a year lost out of their lives as they would have to apply to and be accepted into another school at probably a greater yearly expense than what they pay now.
Well, of course, the answer to that is concealed is concealed. 🙂 Really, though, I understand. It’s a tough decision to make, and a lot at stake either way. If I knew when I was applying to college what I know now, I would have headed to one of the handful of schools where carry is allowed. In my case, such things weren’t even on my radar at that point, though.
I carry to school at UI every day… but I’m taking all my classes online from the comfort of my living room, so I guess that doesn’t count. 🙂